David Norris (Independent)

I support Senator Hayes on both matters. On the matter of the constitutional amendment, the Government side of the House has indicated strongly that it does not think the referendum should be held on the same day as the European and local elections, which is right.

Members of a group of people in the House yesterday handed me a document which indicated that the most courageous and most difficult decision they ever took was to come to this country. They did not come in any mean-spirited way nor did they intend to use the fact of birth in order to gain citizenship. We need to examine this issue.

I also agree with the Senator on the matter of the report on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. It is an appalling vista. However, unlike that old nincompoop, Lord Denning, I believe appalling vistas must be faced. They must be examined and brushing issues under the bed is of no use and only makes the matter worse.

An Taisce has been repeatedly attacked in this House and I have been a lone voice in its support. It has been accused by various Ministers and people on the Government side of the House of doing nothing about Powerscourt among other issues. That accusation was answered by the former president of An Taisce, Michael Smith. He indicated that An Taisce had been under attack over this matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Roche, asked why it did not appeal. The answer is perfectly clear; An Taisce in Wicklow was taken over in a kind of coup by various business interests, many of them with connections to Fianna Fáil, including a gentleman who was convicted subsequently of illegal dumping.