Rónán Mullen (Independent)

-----when one has no answer for the argument. I will conclude with the following point for the moment and I hope the Government will be gracious enough not to introduce the guillotine. I acknowledge this amendment is well intended and I agree with the goal of increased participation by women in politics. The means is pretty appalling in terms of introducing a gender quota. It is social engineering, it interferes with the political system and, I suspect, it may be unconstitutional.

We are all aware of a time when politicians may or may not have tried to get in touch with Uachtarán na hÉireann about the question of whether the Dáil should be dissolved.