David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Devine's proposed amendment.I would like to comment on the royal wedding. I agree with my colleague about this. The royal family are extremely popular in Ireland and always have been. I remember well when Princess Margaret was getting married and there was an electricity strike. The women of Ireland ganged up and forced the ESB workers back for two hours so that they could watch the royal wedding. It was marvellous.

The Queen, her gracious majesty by God-ordained, is three times directly descended from Brian Boru, once from Hugh O'Neill, rebel Earl of Tyrone, and Prince Harry is also a descendent of the Roches of Cork. We have, therefore, a direct Irish interest in the royal wedding. It is a bit of fun, it is pageantry, it is glam, people love it. It is a real soap opera. People are going to be on tenterhooks to see if daddy turns up or if he will be doing another gig with the paparazzi. It is great fun.