Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not easily buy into conspiracy theories but in recent weeks, conspiracy is not far removed from the "Yes" campaign to abolish the Seanad. One should look at some of the people who have come out on behalf of that campaign. Some of them have been rejected by the electorate in the past while some of them have not been exactly successful as public figures. Others are beholden to Government while others are living in expectation of getting something in the future. When I see all those people coming together added to what we hear about two former Ministers involved in a very crude exercise outside the gates of Parliament, I must ask why. I am now coming to the conclusion that the drive for the abolition of the Seanad is not coming from within this country. It is coming from outside this country and the lid is being kept on it in case it might come out before the referendum. There can be no other answer.

I went on radio to debate this issue with one of the people involved in the exercise outside the gates. From his responses, it was more like he was on my side and agreeing with what I was saying. He agreed that the figure of €20 million did not stand up and that the reduction in the number of Deputies would be no more than eight. He was meant to be supporting the "Yes" campaign. I am convinced that in the coming weeks, we will learn how murky this campaign was and how we lost control over our destiny and sovereignty to influences who were not elected by the people. We are talking about democracy at a time like this. If there was any spirit left in us, we would all walk out to the gates of this building tomorrow during an adjournment period and stand up for ourselves, because if the media will not come in and cover the contributions, let the mountain go to the gate outside. What I have heard this morning about the activities in which those two former politicians are involved suggests we need more answers to the questions that have been raised. We have not received those answers. We are going to be celebrating and commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising in a couple of years. In the name of God, what will we commemorating and celebrating? If the sacrifices were worth anything, it was to give us control of our own destiny as it is enshrined in the 1916 Proclamation. We are not doing that. Are we fit for purpose?