Derek McDowell (Labour)

A Chathaoirligh, you must forgive me for departing from the motion to address the most interesting remarks made by Senator White at the conclusion of her speech. Whatever she or the Taoiseach in some of his ramblings might believe, the neo-fascist and ultra-right nationalists with which the Fianna Fáil Party shares a group in the European Parliament will be very surprised to learn they are cohabiting with a socialist party. I suggest the Minister for Finance, whom I had the pleasure of shadowing for five years, would be less than delighted with such a description of his party. Perhaps it is one of the secrets behind its consistent success in being all things to all men.