Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----and I have not even spoken for two minutes yet. We are trying to ensure everybody can have his or her say on the substance of the issue.

On the appointment of the Chairman, no Chairman has yet been appointed. We are putting it in the motion for a democratic decision in this and the other House that Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh be supported by a majority of this House to be Chairman of what will be a difficult committee to manage and chair. The only motivation is to try to have a neutral person who will be respected by the vast majority of the members of the committee - I hope by all of its members - to try to move towards compromise and consensus on what is a difficult issue.

It is the only motivation here and we are bringing it for a democratic decision this morning, which has been flagged all week by me and by the Minister of State, Deputy Regina Doherty. I do not understand why people are kicking back against this as if they have just seen it for the first time this morning.

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