David Norris (Independent)

It is rather decent of me. This is a real compact history of the country. The first one mentioned is the erection of castle and fortifications at Dublin — that takes it back to 1204 — and the establishment of fairs at Donnybrook. It probably goes on to the extinguishing by Act of the fairs of Donnybrook because they became so outrageous. They added the word "Donnybrook" into universal language.

I am very pleased, as a former member of the board of St. Patrick's Cathedral, to have the Act of 1474, the Confirmation to St. Patrick's Cathedral Dublin of foundation etc. and especially the Constitution called Dignitas Decant etc. retained, and the Marsh's Library Act 1707, also a period of extraordinary religious turbulence, when the great Bouhéreau came here and donated his entire library. Archbishop Narcissus Marsh left money to erect that beautiful building in St. Patrick's Close.

I am most interested in the Whiteboy Act, which is being retained. Apparently, there was a Supreme Court case in the past 20 years or so which held that it was still active. That is particularly interesting because this very night there is a television programme on RTE about the whiteboys.