Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I also welcome the members of Young Fine Gael who are in the Gallery. I agree with the Minister and previous speakers regarding the active engagement of young parties. I remember my early involvement in politics many years ago. It was either after Garret FitzGerald was in office, or around his time. One of the great things about it was that there was not a week that went by when there was not something being said about the rebels in Young Fine Gael who were stirring it up somewhere and were causing problems. It was fantastic. It was great media. They were young and dynamic. They were raising issues and introducing motions at their conferences. Of course, the media wrote about them and loved them. Many of them are in the Houses now. I want to say that to the people who are in the Chamber today and to those who are listening in. It is great to see young people engaging in politics. That is what it is. Most of us in this Chamber will have been involved in politics from a very early age. The path of politics is eventually to come into parliamentary democracy within these Houses. It is great to see them here. I commend them on their engagement in respect of this matter.

I will not repeat all the things that have been said. I will add that one of the great benefits of having a former Minister for Justice, colleague, and former Attorney General - I will not say he is an elder statesman, although he did celebrate his birthday here last night - sitting in the Seanad is that he brings wisdom and experience. There is some merit to what Senator McDowell has said in terms of another route or direction to bring this legislation. He did suggest half a day. I am happy to suggest that we would give it a day or two-----