Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Well 1937, whichever, but I am saying it is not fit for 2016. My apologies. I think we should enshrine the right to water in the referendum and I am asking that, if Senator Barrett's amendment is not accepted or agreed to by Government side, we defer this Bill.

I am so far away from my little abode in west Cork that I might as well stay here tomorrow, Sunday, if it is possible, and Monday and Tuesday.
If we want to deliver proper legislation and if we are to be honest with ourselves, look into our hearts and be honest with the people who are marching - people who cannot afford to pay mortgages and who cannot have a happy Christmas because they have nothing in their pockets - we should be here, and say, with regard to this notion of having a promised plebiscite on legislation, that it is pie in the sky. Let us step back from the brink, and this legislation can kick in on 1 June next year.
This legislation has been held up for over 12 months. The reason it was held up for over 12 months is we have lengthy debates. I spoke ad nauseumin this House when the Bill was introduced before Christmas and, to be honest about it, at least the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, his colleagues who have been here and the Minister, Deputy Kelly, are listening. They are engaging with us. I remember comments made by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill. The chickens have come home to roost. We were not listened to, like a hoo ha. They thought what of the Senate. It will be gone next year. We are going to abolish it; now we will move into the Dáil, the real Chamber. The Taoiseach got a wallop. If this matter is not sorted out properly - I am not getting into the ratio about charges or their propriety - the greatest wallop of all is going to come. I have got wallops myself politically on many occasions, from my own crowd and from the people. The greatest wallop of all is going to come, but the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste are not prepared for it. This will not go away. I am saying they should step back from the brink. The Government should either accept Senator Barrett's very genuine amendment or alternatively defer this issue and have the referendum in the spring of next year.