Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join in the general expression of Christmas good wishes and thanks to the staff of the Seanad Office and to all of the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service for the wonderful work they do for us in this establishment. On the Order of Business yesterday, Senator Colm Burke referred to a nameless Deputy - he was being very careful - who, in a committee session, queried the status and legitimacy of Members of this House. To observe the decorum of this House, I am not going to name that Deputy.

The words "People Before Profit", however, did come to mind. I used to think that People Before Profit was a secular party from Egypt and that "profit" was spelled "prophet". In any event, on this occasion the case was made that somehow Senators lacked a mandate. In my innocence, therefore, I looked at the Internet last night and discovered that the Deputy who made these remarks, who shall be nameless in the interests of observing decorum in this House, received 4,379 first preferences or 10% of the vote in her constituency.