David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, together with the Technical Group, will be opposing No. 1. We think it is wrong to force this matter through in such a way.

With regard to the GRECO report, the Minister said that there would be no earthquakes in it and that Senators would be disappointed. I do not know what his definition of an earthquake is, but the report states this Bill opens the way to political interference. If that is not an earthquake, I do not know what is. This Bill alleges that it is seeking to address this very problem but it is doing absolutely the reverse. It is opening the way to political interference and corruption in the judicial system of this country at the whim of one person. I think that this is an outrage. The Minister, Deputy Ross, is a byword for political hypocrisy but the fact that Fine Gael will follow him into this is outrageous and I honour Senator Noone for her contribution yesterday when she said she would vote, albeit with a heavy heart. I would say do not vote with the Government on this. Show a bit of spunk. I do not think there is a single Member of Fine Gael in this House who approves of this Bill. Certainly from their speeches one would not detect it. Let them show the relevance of the Senate, that we stand up for principles, that we will defy political corruption in Government which we see at this moment. We should put the country before the party. This is what has got Britain into such an appalling situation where they put the Tory party's interests above the interests of the United Kingdom as a whole.

Fine Gael, regrettably, had the same situation when Deputy Enda Kenny tried to abolish the Senate. Nobody in Fine Gael agreed with it. They all trooped, nonetheless, like lambs into the division lobby to support it. That was a violation of political conscience. Let them now find their political conscience and let them vote against this Bill, which is a disgrace to an Irish Parliament.