Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

With the eyes of 500 million Europeans upon us, the only disaster likely to befall us on 12 June would be if we brought the electronic voting machines out of storage. They are best left alone and we should stick to pen and paper for the referendum.

Senator O'Donovan has taken a consistent and correct position on an important issue on which there is cross-party agreement, namely, fisheries. Serious problems have emerged in this area, one of our greatest natural resources. Despite the publication of the Cawley report on fishing, little action has been taken to protect our fisheries, both inland and at sea. Provided it is protected and conserved, the fishing resource renews itself. Fisheries could become an even larger economic sector if we protected them properly. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on fisheries.

I extend my best wishes to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Séamus Brennan, on his retirement today. The self-congratulation we have heard from the Government benches in this House and the Other House for the past month will have to stop tomorrow to allow the Government to get back to business.