Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is something edifying about a Minister who comes into the House showing passion and expressing idealism.

That must be welcomed at any time and we should not distract from or denigrate that in any way. Public life could do with much more of that. I could see the passion he had in expressing his position on changes in the ownership of the water of Ireland in the future, but I remind him that the archives of current affairs programmes are littered with pronouncements like that. People, through no fault of their own - they can do nothing about it - cannot live up to them, and subsequently one finds them being used very often in a method of ridicule with which I do not agree. Very often, through ridicule, they are being shown in a context.

The Minister confirmed what we all believe, which is the most important thing of all: that the plebiscite, when enshrined in legislation, can be changed by any future Government through amendment. That is the bottom line we are dealing with. There is a degree of histrionics about using Bunreacht na hÉireann and holding it aloft. I accept the Minister's credentials and that he has done and will continue to do, what is correct and right as a Minister. However, while we all accept there is a degree of sacredness about that document and sometimes it does put an end to a discussion, the article the Minister read out would tell me that, even if there is some indication within the Bunreacht that the people of Ireland already own the water. One could extend that argument quite easily legally. One elects people to do whatever is required and that ownership by extension is handed over to the people. The Minister might be overly idealistic, if he does not mind me saying so, not to be able to imagine any Government doing what the people do not want. There was an Irish statesman one time who said that when he wanted to know what the Irish people wanted he looked into his own heart.