Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The effect of the amendment would be to ignore respected Members like Senator Quinn and assert that the major parties should decide these issues. That would not lead to useful legislation. Contrary to Senator Brian Hayes's suggestion, all legislation coming before the Houses of the Oireachtas is important.

General consensus is somewhat different to all-party support. If we must have the latter, we will never make any legislative progress. The system in place has served us well for years. It should be remembered that the Government is directly elected by the people. When it takes a decision, the people indirectly do the same. No one is seriously suggesting we should have absolute agreement from Members across the political divide, including Independents. If we adopted that approach, no progress would be made. While there may be some differences on the detail, all parties and Independents agree with the principle of electronic voting and printing. To require by law that an issue must have the support of all parties would be a recipe for disaster and ensure that change would probably never occur.

I have no doubt that if the public was asked by way of referendum whether electronic voting was required, it would be endorsed by a sizeable majority. No referendum outside a dictatorship will be carried by 100% of people. I have suggested on numerous occasions that if there was a referendum on going to heaven in the morning, a number of people would vote against the proposition. The Opposition cannot be serious about this as to do so would be to say that if it was in Government, it would abdicate its responsibilities. Government carries responsibilities and when we are in Government, we must ensure that we fulfil them in the best interests of the people. According to common sense, I cannot accept the amendment. It is a matter for Senators Opposite whether they agree to my suggestion that it be withdrawn.