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

This is not like Grattan's Parliament where people are being bribed. On the contrary we are simply asking the people to take a position on the matter. It is entirely consistent with what our party, the Fianna Fáil Party and Sinn Féin stated in our manifestos. In fairness the Labour Party did not give that commitment and it believed in a constitutional convention. Along with all the candidates in my party, I signed up to that and it was also signed up to by Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil. We will have a referendum on the issue and it is a matter for the people to decide. The fundamental question the people will decide is whether they want a bicameral or a unicameral system.

I have no doubt that all the issues colleagues have rightly mentioned will be matters for the campaign. The only task for the legislation is whether one believes in putting that referendum. The people are sovereign on this issue. I respect the decision of the people and I ask others to do the same. I ask people to concentrate on that issue.

All kinds of allegations have been made about the Taoiseach, including references to Napoleon and dictatorship, which are rubbish. We believe in a written Constitution and stand over it. Senator Quinn made a very valid point yesterday. The reason this country did not go the way of fascist Europe in the 1930s and 1940s was that we had a Constitution and a healthy democracy.