Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

For the first time today, I have seen something the Minister cannot refuse. I see him sitting there and shaking his head saying he will refuse because the grey beards - the backroom boys - have told him to come here and reject everything because they have written the Bill and he is not to change it because if he does, they will really screw him up. This is a wonderful idea. The Minister cannot take a referendum amendment.

In fairness to Senator Byrne, I am sorry he got to this before me. It is a fine piece of work on his part. It costs the Minister nothing to commit to this. It allows for a review of the possibility of enshrining in the Constitution the desire that Irish Water be in the hands of the people forever. The Minister has nothing to be afraid of. He is a brave man to be here at all. I would have expected him to have gone underground by now but he is a brave man and is sitting it out; fair play to him for that. He should do the brave thing, follow the advice given to him by Senators Byrne and Ó Murchú, take on board the amendment and show that he is a man. He does not even belong to Fine Gael so he can go back and tell the Taoiseach he is not one of his boys and has just proved it. I do not want to see the Minister unemployed after the next election.