Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)

I thank everybody who made a contribution to this important debate. There were some very interesting contributions and a fairly philosophical understanding of what is involved. This is one of the most important electoral reform motions that has come before this Chamber in a long time.

I want to address the contributions of a couple of speakers. I was disappointed by Deputy Guirke who spent his time attacking his constituency competitor for petty reasons. This issue is bigger than Peadar Tóibín or Johnny Guirke. The idea that we would not spend our time trying to fight for this and instead fight with each other is absolutely silly.

Deputy Aidan Farrelly attacked Aontú on the basis of diversity. That attack shows a lack of self-awareness. The political establishment in this country dresses up in the colours of diversity and welcomes everybody's opinion as long as it agrees with theirs. Deputy Farrelly and Deputy Gannon probably do not recognise it, but their politics is in the ascendancy in the country. Their politics is the establishment in this country. For at least the last decade, this House and this country have become a cold house for diversity of thought. There has been an oppressive uniformity in the political system that has shut down voices. If people do not recognise that, it is because their voice has not been shut down. Other people's voices have been shut down and they have been pushed out of the political debate. There is a growing section of Irish society that no longer believe in their types of politics. There is a growing section of young people especially who believe in science and facts and want a common-sense future. Aontú is wholeheartedly at the cutting edge of that particular movement.

I was disappointed with Deputy Paul Murphy bringing up people's faith in this debate. We live in a country where there is freedom of religion. Discrimination on the basis of faith is wrong. If Deputy Murphy used any religion other than Catholic in those sentences, people in this Chamber would have been absolutely disgusted by it. If the Deputy can be inspired by Marx, as he is entitled to be, surely other politicians and other individuals can be informed by their faith?

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