Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I congratulate Senators Morrissey and Brennan on their excellent reading of their speeches into the record. I would like to send them to my five year old to teach her how diction should be properly formed and words should be announced. It was excellent stuff; they should keep it up.

People outside this House will realise what has gone on. They will realise it is a sham. The Government had an opportunity some time ago to do something about this, to move forward with the Fine Gael Bill and right the wrong in a considered and measured way but it failed to do that.

I wish to record the scurrilous and totally unfounded view that Senator Morrissey read into the record in respect of the 1997 legislation brought forward by myself and my colleagues. It is interesting to note that when the 1997 legislation was introduced none of the arguments put forward by the Senators opposite were put forward at that stage.