David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I greatly appreciate the Cathaoirleach's kindness. This reminds me of a story of James Joyce in which one of the characters remarks that another character would not only sell his country for fourpence but get down on his knees and the thank the almighty Christ that he had a country to sell. I find it an absolutely astonishing piece of cynicism that the Government would put in place Senator James Reilly to front this argument, who I have seen in this House making a magnificent stand against multinational corporations, in particular the tobacco companies. I would warn that these tobacco companies will take on Irish policy. We are buying a pig in a poke. What kind of idiot would sign an agreement in the next few weeks which is dependent for its interpretation on a court case that will not be resolved until the spring? In other words, the Government does not know what it is signing. This is absolute madness. The Government is giving multi-national companies control over Irish policy.