Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am merely advocating that we do our job, look at problems in society, fix them and where there is division or diversity of legal opinion that it be checked in the normal manner, as has happened on numerous occasions.

I commend Senator Quinn on putting this issue on the agenda again - I feared it had fallen off since we proposed our own Private Members' Bill. When we were in Government we were told by some of the top lawyers in the country, also working with the Labour Party and Fine Gael, that we were wrong. I believe the Bill should be put to the test. In fairness, I do not doubt that the Government would like to do it but it claims it is being held back because of legal reasons. I wonder, if has been suggested-----