Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I, too, welcome the Minister to the House to deal with this important Bill. As I said on radio, all Ministers are welcomed to this House by all parties.

I would like to begin by addressing an issue raised by Senator John Paul Phelan and another member of his party and to say how dreadfully old-fashioned and outlandish it is that he would believe a person could not have a view or opinion on a matter or be free to express it. Having spent 20 years in parliamentary life, 13 years of which were as a member of various Governments, I believe I am equipped to give an opinion on matters and I will continue to do so. The Seanad is a Chamber in which people can express their opinions.