Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

They realised they are our electorate. They realised there is a local election on 7 June and that there may be a general election after the budget or at some time within the next 12 months. They have woken up and realised they have the power in their hands to vote us into or out of office. That is important and that is what has brought on the change.

I took the time to look at the record of engagement, votes and amendments in Dáil Éireann. We are a revising Chamber. Let us be honest: up to last week, we did not have any amendments in from Fianna Fáil on this. Suddenly they are all exercised because they have to hedge their bets. I am confused as to whether they are running for Europe, for conventions or for the Dáil but somehow many people who come in here suddenly want out of here to another office. If it is not a junior Minister, it is a Taoiseach or President. People are not content to do the job in hand. I say that having considered the matter, because that is where we are.

I say to the councillors listening in via video parliament and other mechanisms that the reality is the AILG made contact with Senators. They certainly made contact with me and I have the correspondence in front of me. They asked us to work hard on this situation. The amendments I have put my name to and spoken on have been done with their support. It is interesting people are responding now, but better late than never. I take grave exception to any suggestion the Tánaiste was pulling the Minister aside because we are under pressure.