Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Darragh O'Brien's amendment to the Order of Business.

I wholeheartedly agree with his comments on the President. It is totally unacceptable that the highest officeholder in the land, who is totally independent and represents all of the people regardless of their political background or persuasion, should be treated in such a bad manner. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable and I add my name to the list of people who condemned the attack.

I also join with Senator Ó Murchú in condemning the attack on Deputy Michelle Mulherin's office yesterday evening. The circumstances of the attack remain unclear. However, the attack is unacceptable, regardless of the circumstances.

I heard the Taoiseach's being interviewed on "The Pat Kenny Show" on my way here this morning. He said something that we should all be aware of. He said that in his 40 years in public life he had become aware of how to judge the expression on people's faces and he upheld the right to demonstrate against Government policy. I would like to add to his comments. I do not blame people for demonstrating because we can all list the unnecessary promises the Government made prior to the election which it has since broken.

The Taoiseach continued in the interview by saying, although their number is very small, that one can observe the hatred in people's faces. That is a very dangerous situation in a democracy. Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Hatred created that camp and hatred is the furthest thing away from democracy. We are only a small step away from those depths if we do not realise what democracy means to this country.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Skills to the House to give us an update on the ongoing talks about the proposed reforms of the junior certificate.