Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I respect the fact that people should be able to congregate and participate and have a vote and that everybody's point of view is heard and respected, irrespective of the subject matter in the Constitution. I agree with Senator Barrett that this is a people's convention. The Senator and I will have plenty opportunities to debate the outcome in the House and elsewhere as will experts. I agree that politicians can lead but I hope the political parties that put forward representatives for the convention will allow the public the lion's share of the time to articulate their concerns and aspirations for the constitutional change needed, if that is the outcome. Let us await its recommendations.