Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been a dismissive attitude. If this issue was to capture media attention, which it has not really done, the Minister would be doing a U-turn in the same way he did a U-turn last week on freedom of information legislation. There will be no public support whatsoever. This would be particularly true in the case of Fine Gael because there has been such anger, such a hardline attitude has been taken towards them and they have been thrown out of the party. I remember when colleagues of mine were expelled from Fianna Fáil. Senator Walsh would know far more about this. It was almost by arrangement. I do not recall significant hard feeling, although Senator Walsh can correct me. I do not remember the venom that seems to exist in Fine Gael and the attitude that they just want to get rid of these people for good.