Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appeal to members opposite to think about the effect their voting for this Bill will have, namely, it will disenfranchise people from having a democratic voice. I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, as a former and well respected Member of this House - as I said in my Second Stage speech I was honoured to have served with him here for five years - to try to talk sense into the Taoiseach. The public is swiftly coming to the conclusion that we already have a dictatorship in this country. A number of Members of Government are being forced to vote for legislation they do not support. That is a fact. It is not democracy: it is a dictatorship.

I again appeal to my colleagues opposite to vote against this legislation and save this third of our precious democracy.