Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Notwithstanding what Senator Ross stated, it is my observation that members of the public are fed up of and cynical about our being obliged to put referenda to them on a second occasion. If there is one lesson we need to learn it is that the Government must get matters right on the first occasion. On many occasions prior to the referendum, I reported to the House the findings of a survey I carried out on the streets of Galway. When carrying out that survey, I discovered that nine out of ten people were of the view that the treaty was not explained properly.

I have been educated in recent days. I met young people at Irish college and students and their teachers. One 12 year old with whom I spoke presented me with a note in which he stated that the outcome of the referendum was that the "No" side won and that when the campaign started the Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, told the people to vote "Yes", while the "No" side told them about the contents of the treaty.