Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It would be helpful for Members to have a debate at an early stage on the recent referendum. When all the congratulations have evaporated, there will be much soul-searching and analysis of the conduct and outcome of that referendum. To change the Constitution at any time is a momentous occasion and it is a momentous decision for the citizens as well. The recent amendments had the support of each political party in the State, yet the bottom line is that 80% of those entitled to vote did not support the referendum. This means that only approximately 20% did so.

As for the Supreme Court decision, I am disappointed at the casual response to that decision. I always understood that as legislators, when a decision came forward, Members not only accepted it but did so magnanimously. While I do not refer to any speaker today, references to the High Court in that context are not correct. The bottom line is the Supreme Court made a unanimous decision.

The second point I find worrying - again I make no reference to anyone who spoke on the issue today because it has been on the public airwaves up to now - is the suggestion the Government should be allowed to spend money on a "Yes" vote. This is exceptionally worrying, because it misunderstands and misinterprets what sovereignty means when it comes to a change in the Constitution. In this case, it would have meant that one would have been spending ¤1.4 million on behalf of 20%, because one certainly could not state one was spending it on behalf of the 80% who did not support it. I hope that particular debate does not gather any weight. However, in a positive sense - I do not say this in a confrontational way - an early debate would be important. Very important messages, as distinct from the result, are emerging. If I may conclude on this point-----