Brendan Ryan (Labour)

It is a good idea because too much time is spent in this House trying to be a mirror image of the other House and in shouting at one another. While I yet may do some shouting, this issue is worth discussing because there is a profound problem, both in Ireland and in western society generally, of disengagement from politics. It would be remiss of me not to state that this is not helped by equivocation and evasion regarding loans, presents, dig-outs and other matters. They do not help to achieve a sense a political engagement. I will not omit this factor from the redress of political engagement. However, I will not spend all of my time on it either. I will leave it to the poodles of Ranelagh to do what they need to do in this respect.