Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes, the Leader of the Opposition, quite rightly praised the turnout at the elections. It was magnificent in light of the stories one hears from around Europe about a decline in voter participation. I suppose we all have different ideas as to why our turnout increased but it is very good when people turn out in large numbers. I thank the Senator for his other kind comments.

As the Senator was talking, I was thinking about the accompanying legislation that must follow the referendum vote. We stated in our Seanad reform discussions that the Seanad would be the catalyst for getting groupings together to hear their views on legislation. This is what all the various parties involved in this matter have put forward. I could address myself to the Minister on this and it would be a good idea if he would consider the issue in that vein. We would then try to have all-party agreement on the accompanying legislation.

I thank Senator O'Toole. We are pretty robust on this side of the House. There is no point in saying that we loved what happened to us. How could one unless one was foolish? We will live to fight another day. There was a rout; there is no other way to describe it. We are good at picking up and I am sure we will all do so. We should try to smile about it and not have such glum faces on this side of the House as we will have to pick up.