David Norris (Independent)

That was the most splendid piece of rhetoric but I agree with the thrust of what he said. Ireland Inc. needs to be represented. The publicity that is gained, the highlighting of our success, our industry and everything of which we can be proud is an important function of Government and we should not be cheese-paring about it.

People need to arrive in good condition. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. I have not been on one of its visits or trips — what the newspapers call junkets — for quite a number of years, but we discussed the question of transport. All members, including the Fine Gael members, agreed that whereas it was reasonable for short trips to look at taking a more modest place in the aeroplane, for very long trips when one is expected to arrive and go immediately into a press conference, it is important to have as much comfort as possible to be efficient, not to be luxurious.

I also laughed when Senator Harris referred to the garrison mentality and the idea of who do they think they are. I must admit I came across a certain amount of that in my family. On the day I was elected to this august House, my elderly aunt had to be informed. I telephoned her and she said wearily that she could not understand why I wanted to mix with those people. She had not thought of what they thought about having to mix with me and I was in those days a very controversial figure in Irish public life.