Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

What Deputy Quaide said was unfair on Deputy Fitzmaurice. I thought Deputy Fitzmaurice was reasonable in what he presented. There is a tendency on the Opposition's side to be intolerant. I saw how they all interrupted Deputy Fitzmaurice on Leaders' Questions. He raised legitimate points. He said there should be a debate. I did not get the sense that he was deliberately trying to stir up fear or hatred. I have been very strong on this. I do not need lectures from anybody in this House about supporting diversity and multiculturalism or supporting people irrespective of ethnicity, colour or creed. It is wrong to put that construction on how I responded to Deputy Fitzmaurice or, indeed, on my contributions on the issue yesterday evening. I fully accept Deputy Quaide's point that there is a febrile atmosphere out there. However, I do not think what was said was fair to Deputy Fitzmaurice. That is my view. I ask Deputy Quaide to reflect on that.

A lot of people get brassed off when they think they are being told they cannot talk about something or they cannot raise issues.

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