David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Minister of State back to this House and remember the days when he sat before me in the Chamber. I also wish to extend my sympathy to him on his recent bereavement. I am pretty indifferent to this legislation and to the referendum. I do not believe it has any great wide appeal and I do not believe people are that interested in it. I consider it to be ludicrous and unnecessary. Reference has been made to how France lowered the age to 18 and how the French had the limit at 23 for many years before that. However, they never have elected a President under the age of 35. Even if it is changed, I rely on the judgment of the Irish people. I think they will make a wise decision and it would be highly unlikely that they would produce somebody who is 18, 21 or whatever it is. Moreover, I detect a notable lack of enthusiasm in the Minister of State's speech for this proposal. He is saying things like "on the one hand and then on the other hand" and it is very like the McKenna judgment-----