David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----and people around the country were prepared to sacrifice their personal interests in order to support the policy in the interests of the citizens. The HSE does not seem to know that the position is being changed as the colleagues of Ministers - who seem to have persuaded the Minister in charge of public expenditure - turn up at announcements and the launching of projects. Meanwhile, HSE personnel are puzzled. That reminds me of the Taoiseach's announcement that he would abolish the Seanad when in the presence of the Leader of the Seanad, who plainly had not the slightest idea that this was coming down the track. I deplore this action and it is very important that we clean up this mess and ensure we have good standards in politics. I am not a member of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour or Sinn Féin.

I went to the forum on the convention on the Constitution at the weekend as a sceptic but I returned from it fully converted. I was immensely impressed by the contributions of those citizens randomly selected. I was very taken by the comments of somebody at my table who said that although he was not super intelligent and did not have a real political grasp, it was his Constitution and there was a right to participate. That was a wonderful attitude and he may have underestimated himself. We had marvellous discussions. People from the Seanad broadened the remit to take in issues like nomination to the Presidency, and 96% of people - the highest percentage of any issue - were in favour of it. People felt it was important.