Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

It was said some colleagues on the university panels were promoting themselves with a vote of 2,500. I received 7,500 votes but did not win a Dáil seat. Let us put everything into proper perspective. The people we represent are the most hard-working and decent of people, each of whom represents, on average, 1,000 people. We are democratically elected. If there was to be a change, I would love to see at least five or ten members of the Northern Assembly represented here and to have a 32-county Parliament. People who have gone before me would dearly have loved to have seen it during their lifetimes. If there is to be change, we will embrace it and do everything we possibly can to assist in the process. There is not a day that goes by on the Order of Business without demands and requests being made to me for debates to take place. The debate today on overcrowding in our prisons had to be rolled over. I cannot accede to requests made on the Order of Business for a debate to take place on the same day because I have to consult with Ministers. They might need to be in Brussels or Luxembourg. Members, therefore, have to be reasonable. I welcome the debate and thank Senator O'Toole for placing the motion on the Order Paper.

I have served here with some very distinguished colleagues, including the late Jim Dooge, Seamus Mallon and the late Gordon Wilson, whom I sat beside. I highlight the fact that Charles Haughey acknowledged and appointed Members from Northern Ireland, including Seamus Mallon and Gordon Wilson. Other Taoisigh did the same.

This House is necessary and has a great future. In our review perhaps we should also examine whether proceedings could be broadcast live for at least one hour a week to let the people see the great work being done in the House on a daily basis.