Eamonn Coghlan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

No strokes were pulled. Last night the Taoiseach recommended that Deputies and Senators accede to the wish of Mr. McNulty that we do not vote for him in the forthcoming Seanad by-election. The only stroke pulled here today is the sticking of a poker in the fire to fuel it. There is so much good news in the media at the moment that Senator Byrne is trying to take attention away from this.

Senator Byrne probably got his information on the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, reading a script last night in the media. I was in attendance and the Minister did not read a script. She spoke very well.