Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Chair and I believe I am entitled to continue. I asked for a debate to start with and explained why I believed it necessary. I spoke on this subject last week and I was very taken by Senator Quinn's suggestion on that occasion that the place for these debates is here in Ireland and not necessarily in Europe. I support that. I very much support Senator Brian Hayes in what he said this morning. I have always believed votes of conscience should be allowed in any Parliament. We have done a great disservice to this nation by railroading people into corrals, exactly as the Senator described, on the occasion of votes. This does not help debate.

I am a little worried that people's hopes are being raised although their expectations may not be substantiated in any way. It is not right to raise the hopes of people who are suffering from terrible ailments. I do not have all the answers and each speaker in the House is correct in saying this is a very complex issue on which we need advice and guidance. With all due respect, this House is the place to debate the matter. I have my views and the other Senators will have theirs. Some of these views will be articulated on ethical grounds and others on different grounds. I am particularly worried that an element of this debate is more commercial than ethical.