Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday was a long day and night and I listened very closely to what colleagues had to say. The net issue in the Bill is whether the country will have a referendum to allow the people to decide. The fine speeches I have heard on all sides of this debate are really a matter for the campaign. My task is simply to answer any question Senators have on the legislation. However, I wish to make a number of remarks.

Section 1 is the definition section, but of course without the definition section the other sections do not flow. If the amendment is passed by the people in a referendum likely in the autumn period, the abolition day will come into effect. If it falls, the entire Bill falls effectively and there will be no abolition day. The abolition day is predicated as set out in the legislation on midnight before the Dáil convenes after the next general election. Effectively at that point the Seanad will come to an end. As I said in my Second Stage contribution, that is predicated on the will of the people.

Many things were said yesterday and it would be impossible to reply to them all. Senator Zappone, my very good friend, told me that I was a worthy opponent. I do not stand as an opponent; I stand as a member of a Government party which gave a commitment to the people before the general election that we would hold this referendum. This is not like Grattan's Parliament where people are being bribed or Parliament itself-----