Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

A debate on the issue of the separation of powers is urgently required before we end up with the courts and politics in the mire together to no one's advantage.

Yesterday and today I listened to various Members extend sympathy with regard to those who lost their lives in World War One. Unfortunately, many of them lost their lives because of British military incompetence. This was a shame and should be condemned when we sympathise with the families and relatives of those who lost their lives during that war. Yesterday Members extolled the vision of Mr. John Redmond who was from my county, but I wonder how the Members concerned feel today now that they realise the leadership of their party is trying to hatch a deal with Sinn Féin in the by-election in County Donegal. That seems to be a contradiction and I wonder whether they are aware of and recognise this. In other words, they are putting politics and party interests before everything else.