Labour's merger with Democratic Left was strongly supported by the party's Galway West TD, Mr Michael D. Higgins, a former government minister and party chairman.
He said that not a single voice had been raised against it at the meetings he attended in his constituency. He added that DL, and its predecessors, had campaigned for a seat there for about the same length of time as he had.
"Eventually, Labour won a seat in Galway West, the first time since 1923. I realise now that the time has come to start analysing how we can make a significant leap forward."
Ms Niamh Bhreathnach (Dun Laoghaire) a former TD and Minister for Education, said that in supporting the merger she could not pretend she represented the united voice of her constituents.
"I cannot even say that my support for the merger is unreserved. But I have taken my decision only after listening to the internal heart-searching that greeted the merger announcement in the constituency of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. A number of members, not many, welcomed the proposal. Quite a few members expressed anxiety about the merged party's future."
Mr Michael Moynihan (Kerry South) a former TD and minister of state, said he regretted that his views differed from his former Dail colleague, Mr Brian Fitzgerald, who was opposing the merger. But he believed that the provision of a united Labour party was of the utmost importance and should be delivered at the earliest possible date.
"I have had 56 years membership of this party and during most of that time we were fragmented. I believe now is the opportunity. Time is not on our side. The Good Friday agreement changed dramatically the future of politics in this State. Gone are the nationalistic approaches which won so many rounds of applause and so many seats for Fianna Fail.
"I can remember a time when Fianna Fail speakers, at election after election, promised their audience and the wider community that the party would remove the border, restore the Irish language and drain the Shannon."
The president of SIPTU, Mr Jimmy Somers, said the principle of political affiliation had been well established over the years and his union welcomed the opportunity to be affiliated to a broader political entity. "I believe that what SIPTU will be affiliated to, at the end of this, is a bigger Labour party."
Some people had understandable reservations about the merger agreement, with those thinking that the terms were too generous for Democratic Left. Mr Eamonn Walsh, Dublin South West, a former TD, said his constituency organisation had agreed to support the merger despite some fierce electoral battles in the past. He would be contesting the constituency with Mr Pat Rabbitte of DL next time.
"I have no concerns for my future. It is the people who will decide whether or not I am in Leinster House, not whether Rabbitte is on my tail or on my ticket."
Ms Jan O'Sullivan TD, Limerick East, recalled that she had participated in the merger talks between the DSP and the Labour party in 1990 and this year between DL and Labour. "I suppose it is out of that experience that I urge you today to vote in favour of the motion." Ms Sheila O'Sullivan, Cork North Central, said the merger would bring strong and articulate deputies to Labour's ranks. "The merger will make the party a stronger and more vibrant one, and I welcome the agreement from that point of view."
She said the merger would allow a former DL deputy to run under the Labour flag in her constituency in the next general election. "I would prefer if that were not so. However, I think that the party is bigger than any one of us."