Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Norris is quite right that the chance of any amendment being passed today is very small. However, the Minister is beginning to hear positions here that he did not hear in the Dáil. I watch the body and face language and the responses we are getting and get the feeling a new narrative is being provided here to the Minister. The first chink of light I got out of all of this that gave me some hope came from Senator Gilroy today, when I heard him put forward a new position. He suggested that while it may not be in the legislation, he would support a forum like a constitutional convention.

This has broadened the debate beyond our expectations and the Minister's response also came as quite a surprise to me. I agree fully with Senator Cullinane that if we had received those responses yesterday and before the Bill concluded in the Dáil, we would be having a totally different debate.