Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

He knows that. I know it. Everybody in this House is aware of that. Given all the unanswered questions, doubts and lack of trust which seem to be coming forward in the messages we are receiving; what Senator Byrne said; and the work and thought he has put into this without standing up in any confrontational way - I admire his logic and it is quite clear he is trying to be helpful - would it not be wonderful if the Minister could make an announcement to the thousands of people who came out on to the streets and are worried and the thousands who have not yet taken to the streets? Would it not be great if he was such a Minister that he was able to go out this evening and say that he had listened to what seemed a very informed debate, that questions were raised that he had to think about, which he has already admitted himself, and as a result of that, he will show himself as a new breed of Minister - independent-minded and listening to the people, which is what we are supposed to be about? Would it not be wonderful if he went out and said that the Government would not road-block everything and that the idea of a forum or using the Constitutional Convention is a great idea? Then all the questions that remain unanswered, all the information that was not provided to us today and all the doubts that are building up could all be focused in that forum. Is there something unreasonable about that? Is that not what we have been talking about all day - listening, reflecting and representing the people? Is that not what we have all been saying? Let us prove that we mean it when we say that.

The amendment put forward here is very reasonable. It might be worthwhile at some stage to have a break in our deliberations and let the Minister go away and reflect, discuss with his officials, get on the phone and talk to An Taoiseach. That is what it is about. I would love to see democracy and the democratic process being opened up in that way and not stuck in straitjackets with people with whips lining us to put us into the seats. That is what the people want. If the Government wants to look at the polls, everybody is telling us and the media is reflecting the fact that a new type of politics taking centre stage. There is no question about that.