If it has not been done already, I second the amendment proposed by Senator Denis O'Donovan. I have always believed that the Proclamation of 1916, while it may be one of the shortest charters of independence in the world, was very much ahead of its time in the foresight it demonstrated in cherishing all the children of the nation equally, the compassion it showed and in demonstrating what people have to do in order to be dutiful in so far as the nation is concerned. That is very important and much of it is enshrined in our Constitution. There is a charter of which we can all be so proud, which has helped us through so many difficult times.

Senator Crown raised an interesting, perhaps a novel point, and the Leader might consider having a debate on it. At times we think only about legislation but do not always think about what happens when the same legislation is implemented. I think, for example, of people who are living in abject poverty and yet are left on their own. I refer to people who put money into Anglo Irish Bank so that in their twilight years they might have a pension. Despite this, because the State made a decision to wipe out Anglo Irish Bank, their pension fund is also gone-----

Hear, hear.

-----as we have seen in the media in very recent times. Remembering that the family is the basis of society, I think of families where parents cannot send their children to school properly clothed, ensure they are fed or give them warmth. This all arises from our duties as legislators. Either we take legislation to insulate us or we take the Constitution. If we are going to open up the duties of legislators, as was suggested by Senator Crown, we should not confine this to a very small section of our duties. Let us open it up and see if, as legislators, we upheld the Constitution when we fulfilled our duties to all the people and all the children of the nation. Whatever debate takes place at the Constitutional Convention or in the health committee in respect of forthcoming legislation, there would be nothing wrong if this House were to debate the Constitution in a broader sense, its relationship to legislation and vice versa.