Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I am glad ample time is being given in this House to consider Report Stage and the amendments. Having been a civil servant, I do not like generalised attacks on civil servants. There is no basis for the assertion that officials in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform somehow do not have respect for the Oireachtas and that they are anti-democratic in their ethos. That has never been my experience. Nor do they regard themselves as infallible. I regard those comments as wholly unwarranted.

On a lighter note, if the Union of Students of Ireland is a model for learning the realities of life, Senator Ryan has a different idea of reality to me.