David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's analogy in comparing Senator McDowell to a milk-laden cow is a little unfortunate. I am in the House 32 years and cannot recall other occasions when Ministers questioned the motivation of a Senator. Any Senator has the perfect right to table whatever amendment he or she likes without a Minister raising questions about what I am sure Senator McDowell would call the mens rea, or state of mind, of the Senator in tabling it. Whatever Senator McDowell motivation is - it is something to which I cannot speak, as I simply do not know, as I am not in his mind-----