Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I always remember, while studying property law in King's Inns, trying to memorise the distinguishing features between a tenancy in common and a joint tenancy. It occurs to me out of the blue after 35 years that there was an acronym to remind me of the distinguishing characteristics of joint tenancy, PITT. It stood for possession, interest, time and tenure. I knew going into the examination hall that I would be able to parrot it back out. With all the accumulated knowledge, I would be a right idiot to abolish the difference.