Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk again on this Bill that does not make any sense. The people who fought for our country back in 1916, over 100 years ago, were glad that one of the things they fought for was freedom of speech and the freedom to express an opinion.

There seems to be a different emphasis now rather than having a focus on those two vital aspects of having commonsense laws and of being fair and just to the people we represent.

The last time this Bill came before the House, our group was against it. There was only a handful of us at that point. It was not until the public got to know what was happening and there was a vote here that things changed. Only six or seven of us voted against it. That is the truth. Maybe six or more months ago I happened to come in late some night and I got mad when I saw Senator Lisa Chambers boasting about what the Seanad had done to change the Bill. The Senator was more or less blaming the TDs in the Dáil, but her own party members voted for the Bill as it was presented at that time. They were part of the Government. They and many Members on my right here were in favour of it at that time. It was not until they looked deeper into it that they saw they had been mistaken. It was not until the calls kept coming in to my office, to my brother's office and to all the other Members' offices that people began to understand. Those making the calls were vicious about what was happening. They let it be known to the Government as well.

People do not trust the Government in relation to this matter. I get calls about it practically every week. Even though things may have cooled down for a bit, I still get calls. I received several texts, even in recent times, asking me not to support this Bill. As I said, people do not trust the Government now. Whatever wording the Minister has changed, they do not believe that the Government will stick to that.

There have been calls before I got up to speak to the effect that we should park this Bill until the new Government comes in. If I get re-elected, I will be opposed to it.

We have had a democratic State for the past 100 years or more. What was wrong with it? Why is the Government trying to change it? Why is it trying to shut people up? Why is the Government trying to deny them the right to talk?

No one knows exactly who the Bill's provisions will extend to until it is enacted. I am sure then the Garda will have to do what it is asked to do and either challenge people in the courts or take them to the court. The last place in the world the people I represent want to go is to court.

All the parties seem to be for this. Changing this small bit I am talking about does not satisfy me. It does not satisfy the people in Kerry who I represent. I will not be voting for this Bill because there is suspicion hanging over the Government as to what it is trying to do. It does not seem as if it will help the ordinary people to retain their democratic right to freedom of speech or to express their opinions. I do not see why the Government is trying to muzzle the people in this way or to put them down. There is no need in the world for it. I will be voting against it again this time because the people simply do not trust the Government. I do not trust the Government either.

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