John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

The Senator referred to the fact that two of the Senators who contributed to the debate did not have Irish accents. I have an Irish accent, a south Kilkenny one, of which I am proud. If a person is elected to this Chamber, it does not matter what kind of accent he or she has, be it African or Asian, which many now have. All Senators are entitled to express their views on this important issue, regardless of what the Senator might say.