Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I was trying to read into the record the apology from the former Taoiseach, but that is yesterday's business and we will move on.

Regarding the point made on our embassy in the Holy See, I know the ambassador, Mr. Noel Fahey. He is a school friend of mine from the CBS in Roscommon. It would be a retrograde step to close an embassy which is of great historical importance to the country and was vital in gaining our recognition throughout the world. It is a very small embassy in Rome, assigned to the Holy See, and we have the Papal Nuncio in Dublin, who is head of the diplomatic corps. It is a bit over the top to ask for a closure at this time when we want to be in a position to talk to the Vatican, through our embassy, which is the appropriate way to do it.

We will go to the polls on 5 June and many of us are not happy with the compilation of the register of electors. I am aware of a couple who were on the register for 45 years but they have been taken off it. One could say they should have checked it. However, there should be a late appeals system. I urge the Leader to speak to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government about this issue. Surely it is a deprivation of their democratic right for a couple who have been on the register for upwards of 40 years to be unable to vote on 5 June? With all the arrangements we have in place there should be some late appeals system where errors have occurred.