Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----to ensure a Government majority in the House. I was not a Senator at the time, but my colleague, Senator Mooney, was when a Government came to power without an election in 1994. For the three following years, it functioned effectively without a majority in this House. That Seanad responded responsibly to all legislation and debates. Now, when Opposition Members raise issues, Government Members feel obliged to support the Government simply because of party loyalty and the Whip system. The tyranny of the Whip needs to be removed from this House and, at the very least, diluted significantly in the Lower House. In this regard, I am pleased that one Member who, due to his own conviction and conscience, voted against the abortion Bill introduced by the Fine Gael Government has now had the party Whip restored to him. This will be a salutary lesson to many people, particularly in Fine Gael but also in the Labour Party, who struggled with their consciences.