Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the staff of the House for remaining here until 6 a.m. In doing so, they were so helpful and courteous, as always. This service to the House was way above the call of duty. While it was so unexpected for any of us to be here, our staff were wonderful.

Let me mention the various centenary celebrations that will be occurring. I ask that the parliamentary tradition be included with the others we are to honour. There is a very fine section on the Irish Parliamentary Party in Dr. Maurice Manning's chapter in the book The Houses of the Oireachtas. The facts about the party are simple enough, he states. For 40 years it was the voice of nationalist Ireland. It articulated its demands and argued its case in the one place where change was possible to achieve and it achieved much. It created the world's first pledge-bound, mass-based disciplined political party. It forced a rewriting of the rules of the House of Commons, held the balance of power at critical moments, put the Irish question on top of the political agenda and, among other achievements, delivered a series of reforms that resulted in the end of landlordism. There is a terrific tradition that is sometimes forgotten about in other aspects of Irish history. We, as parliamentarians, should organise some event to celebrate that splendid parliamentary tradition.