I sound a solemn warning to the Government this morning about the referendum on the removal of the eighth amendment to the Constitution. If it does not wake up soon, it will lose the referendum. It is not doing anything and there is no campaign whatever that I can see.

That might be a good thing.

It is certainly not a good thing for democracy. Senator Coghlan is entitled to his views and the rest of us are entitled to our views.

I ask Senator Coghlan not to engage in provocation.

The Senator is an old pal.

Senator Norris understands me.

I have received numerous communications addressed to me personally in the post from decent, well-meaning people. These are printed documents that commence with the words "Dear David" and so on and include videos, pamphlets and leaflets. I have received a number of these communications in my office. Yesterday, as I was entering Leinster House, I was approached by a television crew who asked me my view on the eighth amendment. When I stated I was in favour of removing it, the discussion became increasingly aggressive and harassing. Luckily, I am not easily intimidated.

I have not heard anything from those who wish to remove the eighth amendment. This is a serious mistake as there is a great danger that the referendum will be lost unless the Government gets out and explains the position, particularly with regard to the 12 week gestation limit because that issue causes many decent people real concern. Many people do not realise that the reason for the proposed limit is that the abortion pill is available on the Internet, which means young women can take it without medical supervision and do themselves great physical harm. I call on the Government to start a campaign now, get off the fence and do something to ensure this obnoxious amendment is removed.

Well said.

My church, in a typically Protestant, stupid fashion, has dithered on the issue.

When it was being introduced in the beginning that church said very clearly that the Constitution of Ireland was not-----

It has some very solid people.

-----the place for this kind of expression and it should be left to the legislators. I say again, the people on the other side do not trust the legislators. They do not trust the people. They do not trust the judges. Who do they trust? Themselves.

I would like to remark on the fact that there is an extremely fine portrait of President Michael D. Higgins in the lobby. It is a very welcome addition.

Absolutely.

It is a very fine painting.

The portrait could have been of the Senator.

On the other side, there is a painting of, I think, all the female Members from the year dot. I am not an art critic but it looks to me like a pond full of tadpoles.

The painting dwarfs the President's portrait, which is a very fine portrait.