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

As already stated, it is not my call. As a member of the Government, I will have an input into the decision but this is ultimately down to the Taoiseach's judgment. I disagree with the Deputy's overall point. This is a democratic process; the Government is democratically elected and represents Ireland's interests. Every day it make decisions on behalf of the people and it can be changed at election time. This is one of the decisions that this Government needs to make. We have a mandate from the people to make decisions on their behalf in lots of areas and this is just another one of them.

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