Derek McDowell (Labour)

I have no difficulty with the contents of the Bill which my party endorses. The only surprise is that we need this Bill at all because I was under the impression most of these provisions were long since in place and it came as something of a surprise to find they were not.

Before Senator Mansergh leaves, I should respond to his idle provocation about the Labour Party-Fianna Fáil Government of 13 years ago. I should say something on which we should have long since agreed, namely, that that Government came apart not because of any esoteric, legal pretentiousness but because trust between Senator Mansergh's then party leader and mine had effectively broken down and the parties were no longer working together as a Government.