Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in complimenting Senator White on her initiative and to wish her well in the launching of her report later today. Moreover, one should reflect on the praise that has been heaped on the Minister, Deputy Hogan. Having proposed the dismantling of local democracy at the lowest level and of regional democracy through the lack of elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta, the thought has struck me that had a constitutional restraint not been placed on the Government in respect of this House, it also would have brought forward proposals seeking its abolition and would have used its unprecedented majority in both Houses to push them through. I hope people will be aware of that.

The referendum will come within a week or two of what probably will be another severely austere budget, in which €3 billion will be taken out of an Irish economy that already is staggering under the weight of heavy taxation and in which the most vulnerable are being attacked and the people should remember this. I also issue a challenge to the 35 nominating bodies, which represent hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, as if this referendum is passed, they also will be deprived of a direct line to the democratic process. These professional people, grouped in 35 nominating bodies that have been involved actively in lobbying and in making representations to Senators over many decades, should mobilise their people because they also will lose this important arm of the democratic process. I also join colleagues who have wished Kieran Coughlan well in his retirement.