David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

-----trying to sell something that is like asking us to buy a pig in a poke. I was here for the 17 hours that we discussed the Water Services Bill and not once in all of the discussions we had at that time - this was only a year ago and we had 17 hours - was the holding of a plebiscite mentioned by the Government. Now it is an issue because they are saying they are listening to the people, but it is only a sop. It does not mean anything. That is the point. They are trying to tell us that we cannot have a constitutional referendum because of so-called unintended consequences. The point is that they are not serious about it. The Government does not want this. It never wanted it. Go back to the very start of this. It never wanted a plebiscite. It certainly does not want a constitutional referendum, and if it were serious, we could have one. If the Government wanted it, it would happen. They are coming up with all sorts of excuses because they do not want it. Not one single excuse has been given by the Government so far as to why we cannot have a constitutional referendum. That is why we must keep coming back to the Minister. He has not given us the excuse.

I asked a straightforward question about whether section 2 could simply be withdrawn. I know the Minister has not come back yet, but hopefully he will answer it. How meaningless does that make the section? I would say that to all the Independent Senators. I know they are in a difficult position, but they are being asked to make a big decision that at some point in the future could have profound consequences. We can all say whatever we want in this Chamber. The Minister can say what he wants, I can say what I want, Fianna Fáil can say what it wants and Senator O'Donnell can say what she wants. We can all say whatever the hell we want, but at the end of the day, if, at some point in the future, any future Government wants to privatise Irish Water, or any element of it, or through the back door with a licence, as was said earlier, it can be done by way of legislation. What we want, and what we should have, is a cast-iron guarantee in the Constitution that goes back to the people. Then we will have certainty. Any words on this paper, with the greatest of respect to any of the Independent Senators, are not worth the paper they are written on. I said at the very start of the Water Services Bill, mark 1, that I was not buying a pig in a poke. I was right. The Minister is now saying that we were right, because the Government made mistakes. I said on the Water Services Bill, mark 2, that I was not buying a pig in a poke, and I was right. I am saying it again with the third attempt by this Government. I am not buying a pig in a poke because I will be proven right. It may not be in three weeks time or three months time or three years time - it could be ten, 20 or 30 years time - but at least I can say I fought for the people. I fought for a constitutional amendment. I did not buy a formula of words that was in legislation that could be overturned by one day of debate and the passing of one Bill. This will be my final contribution on this amendment, but I have listened to a lot of nonsense from the Government Senators.

Not one single contribution, either from the Minister or anybody from the Government, has persuaded me that we cannot have a constitutional referendum. The Minister can dismiss it all he wants and we may have a long night, but the reason for that is that he is not prepared, willing or able to provide us with the information we ask for. We had exactly the same problem when we debated the Water Services Bill for 17 hours. We had the same sighs and grunts from the Minister and Government Senators who said we were filibustering, raising amendments and asking questions that should not really be asked. All of those same questions are now being asked by the Government Senators and we are being told that they were legitimate. I have no doubt we will be back here and I am putting my position on the record, which is that I am not going to be fooled by anybody.