I was surprised that junior minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who is leading the Government campaign on gay marriage, doesn’t seem to be familiar with the rules governing referendums.

Enda Kenny has said that if he is re-elected to office, his next Cabinet will be comprised of “50/50 of men and women - on merit”.

It gives me no pleasure to say this, but notwithstanding this horrific tragedy I find the attitude of Mr Halappanavar and that of his solicitor Gerard O’Donnell to be highly unreasonable.

The fact that Dr James Reilly is in breach of a High Court judgment is, unquestionably, a serious issue.