Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I say that in the context of the recent St. Patrick's Day arguments and controversy. As I was out of the country during that period, I was not in a position to draw conclusions of my own on the matter. There is one breed of commentator in public who says I am the personification of the nanny state while, on the other hand, there is a group telling me I am not doing enough to deal with problems such as those faced on St. Patrick's Day. Our recent legislative package has struck a balance between these two points of view. Being in politics is like being in a coconut shy: people will hit one from either side with equal vehemence and persistence.