Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I share my colleague, Senator Bacik's view on the need for our debates to be decorous at all times. However, sometimes challenging things must be said and I would not like to see freedom of speech curtailed, not too much anyway. I must confess to occasional feelings of enjoyment at the drama which can take place. What really bothers me about the coalition's behaviour is how it treats people, facts and language. I was very disappointed at the tone of the Taoiseach's public comments on the proposed referendum on the Seanad. Several people with no particular axe to grind told me they wondered how statesmanlike such language actually was. There was a tendency to denigrate and apportion blame which I do not think was appropriate.

There is widespread concern that the coalition is engaging in spin about its proposed abortion legislation, starting with the title of course, which mentions protection of life during pregnancy. There is widespread concern this is about directly targeting innocent human children. It has nothing to do with the sad facts of the Savita case. It is all about how the suicide ground will be exploited and turned into abortion on request. People like to have rows about church and State, but it is interesting that the language of misleading the people has come into the debate. This is the feeling out there. Between 30,000 and 40,000 people gathered for the national vigil for life in Merrion Square on Saturday and they feel the Government is seriously misleading the people and proposing something very harmful. This was the largest gathering in this year of The Gathering as far as I am aware.