Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to the former Government Chief Whip for his clarification regarding that pairing mishap. I am sure the Government deputy Whip is equally grateful. I have always found him an honourable man to do business with. We are very dependent on order in this House and the pairing arrangements should be solid between us.

I was present this morning at the breakfast mentioned by Senator Noone and heard that very eloquent address from former European Commissioner and Attorney General Peter Sutherland. He painted a picture of Britain's difficulties and situation vis-à-vis Europe, which, from our point of view, is extremely frightening. The consequences of what they might do in a referendum or plebiscite - real, imagined or political - are dire for us. He went into it in detail, which we cannot do now. It is more than possible, regardless of who is in government in Britain in a year or two, that this could happen. He is such a distinguished man, having led one of Britain's largest companies for 13 or 14 years, that it would be wonderful if we could have him in here to give us that kind of talk. He is still operating out of London. He is extremely knowledgeable, a tremendous Irish man and a great ambassador for Ireland.