Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Ross, told me that there was consternation in government the first time it was defeated whereas now it is a surprise if it wins a vote. We cannot reduce the House to a glorified debating society in which its formal resolutions are meaningless. Votes used to have consequences here. The decisions of the elected assembly of the people actually had a meaning.

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