Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I wish to be associated with the words of tribute to the late Christopher Nolan, but I do not intend to link him with any of the current political controversy. When in secondary school I was very taken by his winning of the Whitbread award. Although I have not seen it in recent days, I remember a quotation of his when he said, "Accept me for what I am and I'll accept you for what you're accepted as." Christopher Nolan and many like him are testament to the enduring dignity of the human person and also testament to the power of unconditional love. Especially in times of crisis when people are tempted to look out for their own interests alone to the exclusion of those of others, that man's dignity, despite his disability and the great love of his mother, which was unconditional from the moment she welcomed him into this world, sends out a very powerful message to us all. I hope he is now enjoying the happiness for which he long aspired.

I would like to add a few brief comments to Senator Ross's very sobering words earlier. Government is a difficult business because it must straddle the task of being transparent and honest in its dealings while at the same time ensuring in times of crisis that people's confidence and morale is maintained. The approach of "don't frighten the horses" has gone on too long and has not served us well as a society. Those who were warned about talking down the economy or were described as whingers and naysayers were ultimately vindicated in their worrying analysis of the way things were going. People have gone into a rut in politics——