Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We could also recount how the Government crudely reminded the public, in respect of election promises, that it is what one does at election time and the promises are there to be broken. However, the public will be waiting in the long grass for the Government in that regard.

We were also treated to a good helping of the Government's dismissive attitude to this Parliament and opposition Deputies. That dismissive attitude resonates with the public, and the Government has received a couple of warnings with the results of the referenda in which it engaged. It has lost plenty of them and they were fairly straightforward. Its outright policy of quelling any opposition, alternative or minority voice knows no bounds, and it will continue in that vein.

I wish to refute one aspect of this debate. The Minister knows well that I have never made a cheap personal remark against him inside or outside this Chamber. I do not know if the Minister could say the same with respect to me. No Deputy in my party has engaged in a personalised attack on the Minister throughout this debate. We have kept to the issue.

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