Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Senator Brian Hayes made some interesting points this morning, and did Members a great favour by staying up late last night to read the President's speech. I must confess that I had not read it. However, all Members accept, as Senator Dardis has noted, that however one might regard individual utterances, the President's comments were of course meant in that spirit of mutual respect. Regardless of how Members as individuals might judge 1916, as Senator O'Toole remarked, we are now sufficiently grown up and mature to be able to discuss and debate all of those matters. We do not need to exclude any aspect of our history. I support having a debate, if the Leader of the House can arrange it.