Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senators for their contributions to this debate. I do not have to declare an interest in this because the Bill does not affect current Members of the Oireachtas or office holders but will affect those who intend to participate in public life in the future. It is understandable that Senators on all sides have a view on the impact the Bill might have on citizens' participation in the institutions of State and in the public institutions of State. The teaching profession has also shown a great interest in this Bill. There was a very public division of opinion between the commission report and the stated position of the teaching profession whose concern stems from anxiety about sustaining the traditional high standard of our teaching profession. It does not affect the current generation of teachers but will affect those who enter the profession from next year.

Various ideological pejoratives are attached to the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, in public debate. In the context of this legislation however, he is a very far-seeing Minister and his concerns do not relate to this generation or the epoch that will culminate at the next general election.