Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

That is fair enough.

I wish to refer back to 1934, when the 1935 Act went through both Houses. It was moved by the Attorney General and great discussion took place. The Houses also decided to establish committees to deal with the complexities of the situation. At the time, Mr. Blythe stated:

I should like to support the point of view put forward by the Minister in this matter. This is not a political Bill and, therefore, we do not need to bring any political considerations into it.

During the past week too much consideration was given to the Minister's situation and to trying to divide the Government. A week is a long time in politics. It started off badly and has finished very well indeed. Mr. Blythe, a founder of Fine Gael, was quite clear when he spoke on 6 February 1935. Another gentleman, Colonel Moore, found it very distasteful and stated:

This, as the Minister has stated, is not a pleasant subject to discuss in public. I have had a consultation with him, and I now propose that this Bill be referred to a Special Committee of the Seanad.

They felt uncomfortable discussing the 1934 Bill. I compliment the drafters of that Bill on 70 years of success during which the Act was not struck down on a constitutional basis. It is worthwhile to read the deliberations of both Houses of the Oireachtas at that time. By discussing this Bill in detail we have done the State some service. I compliment the people who staged a protest on this issue outside the Oireachtas today in such an orderly fashion. I commend this Bill to the House.