Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept the bona fides of the then Senator and leader of Fine Gael in the House who diligently put together this comprehensive and worthwhile report. The inaction of the government at the time and the following government has given rise to the critical situation in this House. I very much regret that, not from a personal point of view but from my experience as a Member of this House who brought legislation through it, accepted amendments and respected this House. I still respect this House. It is a sad day for this country to see a House of such potential being removed on the whim of the leader of Fine Gael for party political reasons when the current leader of the Labour Party was getting kudos and looked like he might lead the Government on that occasion. It was a very successful strategy. I know there is a strategy group within the Fine Gael Party. It was active then and it is active now. I know it has certain strategies on propaganda. One might notice the way propaganda developed around our esteemed colleague, Deputy John McGuinness.