David Norris (Independent)

I welcome the Minister. I am sure we will deal expeditiously with these matters. I compliment the Minister on the constructive manner in which he dealt with the entire process, which cannot have been easy. It was in fact remarkable that an appointed head of a semi-State body, Bord na gCon, was on occasion so vociferous against the Minister. That was most regrettable and unusual and in my opinion raises certain questions. The Minister was correct to listen to advice from within the industry. If would be foolish of anybody to criticise him for taking advice on board given Ministers are regularly criticised for being unresponsive and for not taking advice on board. The Bill has in the Minister's opinion been improved following discussion with the relevant people. I was amused to hear people object to their establishments being subject to an inspection on the basis that their premises are so wonderful and beyond reproach. If they are, they should be delighted to receive an official certificate confirming this. What could they possibly have against that?

I will put the matter of the helpfulness of the coursing clubs in the fridge. As I have said previously, I share the views of St. Thomas Moore, a quotation from whom I once provided to my colleague the late Deputy Tony Gregory which states: "thou shoudst rather be moved with pity to see a silly innocent hare murdered of a dog: the weak of the stronger, the fearful of the fierce, the innocent of the cruel and unmerciful...the citizens of Utopia think not that the merciful clemency of God has delight in blood and slaughter." The evidence of the Old Testament suggests that St. Thomas Moore may have, at least in Volume 1 of his collected works, slightly over-estimated the moral sensitivities of God. I believe the Minister has done a good job.

I realise that many honourable people have paid the price in terms of the passage of this legislation and the legislation on stag hunting. I regret that Senator O'Donovan lost the whip for the position he took. He was outflanked by events. Had these or similar amendments been around he might not have lost the whip. Senator O'Donovan is a decent person whom I hope is quickly re-admitted. I hope we will deal quickly with the report of the amendments. I support the Government on this occasion.