Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will do my best. It will not be easy. I will certainly never be as entertaining.

With a referendum upon us, there is huge concern about the electoral register, the maintenance of which is shambolic. The environment committee of the Houses found at the last election that the register contained almost 500,000 more people than it should have. There are huge inaccuracies, as we know, which leaves the system open to abuse and voter fraud. It leads to a bloated and totally incorrect electoral register. Equally, there are situations in which people have been taken off the register who are still alive and at their home addresses. Neighbours who have emigrated, however, remain on the register. We cannot do much about it in the short term but there is great concern about the electoral register at the moment.

On the important subject matter on which we have to vote on Friday, I agree with Senator Bacik that women's health is a very important issue, as is the health of men and children. It would be very wrong to equate that with the extinguishment of human life by making it lawful. That would be totally wrong. It runs counter to everything we ever stood for or believed in. I hope we will be sensible on Friday.