The Order of Business is Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 25, motion 24. No. 1 is a motion regarding immigration reform in the United States which was placed on the Order Paper as agreed by all the group leaders. It reiterates the sentiments expressed in a similar motion agreed by the House on 11 October 2005 and it is proposed to take the motion without debate; No. 2, the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 — Second Stage (resumed), to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business until 1.30 p.m., with the contribution of Senators not to exceed ten minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than ten minutes before the conclusion of Second Stage; No. 3, statements on the progress of the public service decentralisation programme to be taken at 2.30 p.m. until 5. p.m., with the contribution of spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and other Senators not to exceed ten minutes, and the Minister to be called on to reply not later than five minutes before the conclusion of the statements; and No. 25, motion 24, is to be taken from 5. p.m. until 7 p.m. There will be a sos from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Order of Business.
An international road safety conference is being held in Dublin this week. It has been organised by the National Roads Authority and experts have come from the United States of America, Sweden and Australia. While I am sure that much good will come from it, it is worth bearing in mind that eight years ago, a similar conference on road safety was held with the participation of the same international experts.
At that time extremely good advice, which is worth highlighting, was given by the Australian representative. He spoke about random breath testing and a more countrywide approach to speed cameras. In respect of such issues, it is worth considering that movement in the right direction has only just got under way, in that the Government has begun to discuss such measures.
At that time, however, the Australian expert stated that the best way to put penalty points — which he recommended — into effect was to instil the fear that one might be caught. I must express concern in that regard. Members are aware that there was enthusiasm among motorists for the system when it was introduced in 2002, and they were vigilant about not speeding. However, that enthusiasm has waned and many motorists now honour the system by breaching it rather than observing it.
There have already been 76 tragedies on Irish roads this year. However, some pointers are positive. Recently in this House, I inquired as to why the rules of the road booklet was not printed in different languages. It has not been reprinted for 11 years although many changes have taken place during that time. I welcome the Government's decision to print it in eight different languages, which is a positive step. However, while 31 penalty point offences will be introduced on 3 April next, few people would be able to identify the purpose of even five of them.
Members who participate in local radio programmes will recognise the degree of ignorance in respect of the penalty point offences which are to be introduced. Although many such offences appear to be extremely simple, they will incur penalty points from 3 April. Given that the new offences will come on stream on 3 April, I cannot understand why every motorist and household has not been informed about them. It is important to provide this information. When they are introduced, many people will protest that big brother is watching in earnest. I am all in favour of information being provided and the people being aware of the offences. I hope he Government will take a step in the right direction and ensure the information is available.
The problem we have encountered with transport in the past, and in the carnage on Irish roads, is the fragmentation of Departments. The Taoiseach indicated recently he would pull different Departments together. I want the Minister to let us know how that is working out because there is a need for a supremo in charge of this entire area to co-ordinate everything to ensure a reduction in the number of fatalities on Irish roads.
I note the Minister stated recently that cars from outside the State cannot be impounded at present, even though they may not be taxed or insured. We should close that gap. If we are to reduce the carnage on Irish roads, it will take many punitive measures which must be enforced. After eight years of Government ineptitude on this issue, I hope at last we are seeing positive movement for the future. Let us hope we are because there are many areas that the Government must tease out to ensure it happens.
Over the past number of weeks, and right back to the inquiry into the Garda in Donegal, the force has been to the forefront of many comments made here and in other places. We saw this again two weeks ago in O'Connell Street. The reality is that when push comes to shove gardaí are the people standing there on our behalf. I would be the first to criticise behaviour which I do not accept, and many of us criticised what happened in Donegal and in other places. It is right that we should do so and that we should always be watchful. However, it is becoming almost a cant that when something goes wrong we focus on the Garda in the most negative way.
Yesterday an individual died in custody and there was a proper and immediate outcry. In some of the commentary the presumption of innocence went out the window. Gardaí are as entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty as anybody else. We should show our trust and confidence in them. If they get it wrong we should say so. We should wait until we find that to be the case.
Having said that, gardaí also need support in two ways. It is a convention that every death in custody should be investigated independently. The Garda Ombudsman Commission will not be established until later in the year and I do not know of the current position. Such an investigation does not instil trust and confidence if it is not carried out by an independent body. That is what we should seek to happen. That should be done in a way in which we show our trust and confidence in the Garda in doing an impossible job.
Arising from yesterday's business, the question arose that this person should have been behind bars anyway. There is a simple administrative reason why that was not the case, namely, a lack of resources. Let us put it clearly on the agenda. In every Garda station in this city there is a sheaf of warrants for the arrest of people who have jumped bail, who should have been arrested and who cannot be found and the Garda is not being given the resources to do it. We must recognise that fact. Rather than simply pointing the finger at the Garda, let us give it the resources to do its work.
There are people walking around this city who are in breach of bail regulations, who should be behind bars, who should be arrested and who should be facing charges. It is just that the Garda is not being given the resources to do that. When it goes wrong, when one of these people is found committing another crime, we naturally stand up in this House and ask why. In asking why, let us say that the Garda should be given the chance to do its business. When gardaí get it right, they are doing it on our behalf. When they get it wrong, we will certainly point that out as well and correct whatever it is. However, they cannot be left on their own. They are being isolated by commentary to too great a degree over the past number of months, especially since the Donegal inquiry.
I note there is no Government amendment to the motion tabled the Labour Party, the Independents and Fine Gael.
That does not arise.
I just want an assurance from the Deputy Leader——
That will be debated this evening.
All I want is an assurance——
There will be no assurance.
I am sorry, a Chathaoirligh.
No, that is not in order.
I rarely take issue with you, a Chathaoirligh. All I seek from the Deputy Leader is an assurance that an amendment will not be introduced later today. That is all I want to know.
It is perfectly reasonable.
I am perfectly entitled to ask for that.
Of course we can.
If I attempted to introduce an amendment at this late stage to a Government motion, the Cathaoirleach would quite correctly tell me it was too late.
There is no amendment.
I am sure the Cathaoirleach would rule an amendment out.
I am asking the Deputy Leader to observe the protocols of this House and not land us with an amendment at short notice.
I am sure he will.
I am assuming, as I always do, the Cathaoirleach's support in that matter.
There has been considerable debate in recent times about the failure of the Government to provide proper social housing. There has been a succession of promised initiatives and figures, none of which have been achieved, even given the increase in the number of households on waiting lists and the number of young people who have given up the idea of ever owning their own home.
At some stage I want the House to have a debate on social housing and the failure of the Government to make provision for it. The debate could also deal with the issue of the homeless, which was raised in the usual token fashion before Christmas but which needs to be discussed as part of the failure to provide social housing.
I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate on the contents of the most recent report of the parole board. The board makes recommendations about how people with sentences of eight years or longer are dealt with. It does not make decisions; it makes recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Minister then decides whether to implement those recommendations and over the past three or four years he implemented between 80% and 90% of them.
Given that somebody is being blamed for people being released from prison early when they are given a life sentence, it would be interesting to hear from the Minister why, on the one hand, he is making speeches, as is the Taoiseach, about a life sentence meaning life and, on the other, he is implementing recommendations which allow people to be released after seven, eight or nine years, which I happen to believe is not always a bad decision. Nevertheless, I want to know the Minister's position. Could we have a debate on the report of the parole board as a matter of urgency?
In connection with what Senator Finucane stated, in many Scandinavian countries the driver of a car in a housing estate is responsible for the safety of the children there. The result is that people tend to drive in housing estates at approximately 15, 20 or 30 km/h because they know that if a child runs out, it is their responsibility. We could consider introducing such a measure in this country and it would have a salutary effect on our drivers.
I wish to repeat a call I made in December for a debate on the tribunals. Such a debate should, if possible, involve a progress report from each of the tribunals setting out the modules completed, modules in progress and, in particular, modules still outstanding.
I am seeking this debate for two reasons. First, the timespan of eight or nine years in which people have found themselves before these tribunals is contrary to the well-accepted principle that justice delayed is justice denied. Second, perhaps it would be an opportunity to refocus. Some of the outstanding issues might well be more suitable to a commission of investigation and it might be advisable that this would be looked at now rather than allowing an interminable process to continue.
Will the Deputy Leader arrange a debate on the mismanagement of public finances and the wastage by this Government? We have seen a series of fiascoes by the Government such as PPARS, e-voting and the health care crisis. Recently we read that helicopter flights taken by the Taoiseach around the country last year cost in the region of €650,000. One trip between Dublin and Wicklow cost €2,100. This should be investigated because it sounds hollow in the ears of carers of the elderly and home helps who are concerned about Government waste. I would like an end to such waste and I seek a debate on this issue.
I support Senator Finucane's call for a debate on speeding on our roads. I am terrified to use the road late at night and I will certainly not travel after 12 midnight because I am afraid of trucks, which zig zag across the road. No matter what regulations and penalty point offences are put in place, they will still be abused. A public relations exercise is necessary to give the public as much information as possible. We should debate the issue as often as possible to make sure the public is aware of what is at stake following the number of accidents over the past few months.
The European Parliament recently debated a draft EU services directive, which will establish a legal framework for all member states to provide services in other member states. This Chamber should be used more often to reach out to the public regarding how the directive will work. The nitrates directive caused terrible confusion but, fortunately, it has been clarified.
It has not.
The House should be used to inform the public about the draft services directive, which is important.
History is in the air. Yesterday, we had an interesting discussion on the acquisition of an historical document, the national anthem. Today's newspapers report that a member of the public has very generously given an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation to the National Museum. This should be commended because the document could have fetched more than €390,000. The generosity of the McCrossan family should be applauded. Mr. McCrossan's father had an honourable connection with this House as Oireachtas librarian. It was a very remarkable thing to do.
Unfortunately, the State has not always acted with generosity towards its own soldiers. Will the Deputy Leader raise with the Minister for Defence the possibility of recognising the courage, valour and service of solders of the State during the period 1922-24? They have never received a commemorative medal because there was a civil war. It is about time we put the divisions of the Civil War behind us and recognised the service given by these brave people to our country. We should also welcome the establishment of an inquiry by the Minister for Defence into the need to give recognition to the two surviving Army members of the Niemba massacre in the form of medals. This matter was also raised by one of the staff of the House, Mr. O'Donoghue, and it should be welcomed.
I refer to the Marino College of Education case, which was raised yesterday. I listened to the Minister for Education and Science on the radio earlier and she gave a remarkably fine performance. We, on this side of the House, do not give credit often enough to Ministers. Deputy Hanafin is quite the best Minister in Government. She handled this difficult issue with tact, diplomacy and skill, considering she could have been tempted to take a whack at the authors of the report but she avoided that. She praised the work of the college and dealt with the issue with decency, diplomacy and tact. She has acted on many of the requests made in the House such as providing medical education at university level, providing additional special education teachers, speech therapists and so on. We should recognise this and say, "Well done", to her.
I agree with Senator O'Toole's comments on the tragic murder that took place in recent days. I very much hope, for the sake of everybody involved, including the Garda, that the suspect's interview was videotaped so there should be no suggestion whatever that undue pressure was a contributory factor in his death.
I would also like to refer to the comments by Senators Norris and O'Toole about the death in custody and the subsequent investigation. This makes an unanswerable case for a Garda Ombudsman Commission in a way no other could in the interest of the Garda. I am fully satisfied, on the basis of what I have seen and read, that the Garda acted properly and according to the book in this case.
One of the problems is that I heard a Garda spokesman last night whose first sentence was, "We will investigate this", and whose second was, "We know everything is okay". As Senator O'Toole said, it would be in the interest of the Garda if the investigation — I do not refer to a public inquiry — was overseen by a senior lawyer because, as well as the Garda element in the case, there is the question of the suspect's treatment in hospital. That also needs to be examined.
Senator Ryan raised the question of social housing, which I supported in the past. However, I noticed recently that builders have been able to buy themselves out of their obligations. This vitiates the purpose of the initiative, which was to prevent social segregation by shoving people who need social housing into ghettos.
Senators
Hear, hear.
If a debate on the parole board is scheduled, could it be extended to include the requirements under European convention and other European laws? It is a difficult proposition in European law that the freedom or non-freedom of a person should be an executive decision. There was a case in which the United Kingdom was forced to change its procedure so a Minister was not making such a decision at the end of the day.
Will the Deputy Leader organise a debate on health matters as a matter of urgency? I acknowledge that every Member will have a parochial interest in this regard, similar to myself. How can the Minister for Health and Children justify the provision of only four beds in the accident and emergency ward of Letterkenny General Hospital to service a population of more than 136,000?
In addition, County Donegal extends from Inishowen to Bundoran, a distance of 144 km. I would also like the Minister to outline when a permanent breast surgeon will be appointed to Letterkenny General Hospital, which is a major priority for the consultants, nursing staff and patients in the hospital. The Minister has not visited the hospital during her time in office. I would like her party colleague, the Deputy Leader, to use his influence, as she is more than welcome to visit. I invite her to visit on behalf of the Donegal Action for Cancer Care group, the consultants, nursing and administrative staff of the hospital and the people of Donegal. I beseech Senator Dardis to use his influence.
I have raised on a number of occasions the spiking of drinks in discos, night clubs and licensed premises, which is an ongoing problem. Many young people walk around discos with a thumb over their bottles. I often wondered what this was about and I am led to believe it is the only way they can ensure their drink is not spiked. This is a serious matter. My daughter attends discos and so on and I am told this takes place on a regular basis, but nothing has been done about it. In many cases young ladies end up getting raped. Something must be done about this as there is no point in just talking about it. I would like the Minister to come here to debate the issue. Positive suggestions might emanate from that debate and action could be taken to prevent this type of outrageous behaviour.
Will the Deputy Leader draw attention to the conference on road safety referred to by Senator Finucane? Senator Ormonde spoke about a debate on the issue. I would like the Minister attending the conference to come here promptly to tell us what he intends to do about it, rather than to talk about it. We have done too much talking but have not taken nearly enough action.
There is an easy solution to the problem that provides good value for money. I saw the number plate recognition technology in operation last week and was impressed by it. There are two devices in operation on the M1 and what they can do is almost magic. They can identify every car going through and tell when it exits whether it has exceeded the speed limit. They can also identify many other details. In Britain, where there are 8,000 of these devices, a court case taking place today will charge a woman for driving without hands. She — it was a woman rather than a man, thank God — was putting her make-up on when she was identified on this speed camera. This is a reminder that these cameras can do far more than just detect speeding. We should do something about this technology immediately as it is an investment that would pay for itself. I would like to hear from the Minister what he is going to do about it.
Will the Deputy Leader draw the attention of the Minister for Health or the Minister for Agriculture and Food, whichever is responsible, to the announcement from the World Health Organisation the other day that bird flu does not present a problem if chickens are cooked? We have a thriving poultry industry here, but throughout Europe there has been a drop of 20% in the consumption of poultry. This is a threat to our industry. We should draw the attention of the public to the fact that if chickens are cooked, they are not a threat to health.
Will the Deputy Leader call for an urgent debate on the role of women in society and business? Around the world we celebrate International Women's Day today. I draw the attention of Members to the fact that on the Government side of the House this morning there are 15 men and four women, but on the Opposition side there is only one lady——
And me.
——and 11 men.
What is the difference between a woman and a lady?
Order please.
As we all know, half the members of society are men and half are women. Men and women think differently about issues. We need Leinster House to be more representative of women and I call for an urgent debate on the role of women in society. The Opposition needs to get more women on its side, it is a disgrace.
I too support the remarks made by Senator Finucane on road safety. Senators O'Toole, Norris and Maurice Hayes made the important point that trust and confidence in our gardaí are vital. I support what they said about the Garda ombudsman office.
We are all well aware of the Deputy Leader's concern and high regard for the deer, the oak and fishing——
And the Black Valley.
I was going to leave that out this morning, but it is beautiful territory.
Let us include the whole of Kerry.
Now that Senator Mansergh has introduced the subject, in the heart of that territory lies beautiful Dinis. We have all heard of Dinis cottage and its wonderful history, but the cottage is a ruin. Contractors are in place to renovate it and the roof is currently off the cottage. I believe the Office of Public Works is involved in the renovation on an agency basis with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Will the Deputy Leader ascertain when it is envisaged the work will be completed and Dinis cottage will be reopened to the public?
Senator Norris mentioned the handing over of the original 1916 Proclamation to the State and I commend that decision by the family. The original proclamation in the hall of Leinster House, presented by Seán T. O'Kelly, a former President, should be on proper display, particularly for the 90th anniversary of 1916. It is a very valuable document, but it is in a vulnerable position in the House, just on the wall without any protection. It should be displayed in a proper cabinet on the ground floor as it is a wonderful document. It was a wonderful gesture on the part of Seán T. O'Kelly to present it to the Oireachtas, without any reward, tax incentive or otherwise.
I agree with Senator Glynn on the need to raise the matter of spiked drinks. The issue is even more worrying. A submission made to the Joint Committee on Health and Children indicated there was no evidence of Rohypnol in any of 5,000 admissions to accident and emergency units. The fact is that young people, especially young women, are drinking more and harder alcohol with which the body cannot cope. These young people blank out and think their drink has been spiked, but evidence shows that up to a year ago no case showed Rohypnol in the system in 5,000 admissions.
I am sure the House will support the hundreds of illegal Irish who will march in Washington today in a campaign to legalise their status in the United States. There is a major campaign underway to ensure that people in the United States will get a green card after six years. However, there are influences on this issue and some people and politicians feel these illegals should be booted out of the country. Support from this House would be of value towards ensuring support for this green card.
I too want to mention International Women's Day. Perhaps in the future we could mark this day in the Chamber. We could even go so far as to make Senator Norris an honorary woman for a day, if he so wished.
Thank you very much. I would be honoured.
Senator Feeney should stick to the Order of Business.
Following on the issue raised by Senator Glynn, it is appalling to think that a young person's drink may be spiked. I too am a member of the Joint Committee on Health and Children. We know from research carried out by the Rotunda that no young woman who showed up alleging she was raped had any trace of the drug Rohypnol in her blood. It would be wrong to say that women are being raped because their drinks have been spiked when the figures show the opposite. The only reason they are allegedly raped is because of over indulgence in alcohol. If we have a debate on this issue, it should deal with the issue of over indulgence as it is a worrying fact.
Will the Deputy Leader raise the matter of the Leader writing to the NRA with regard to signage and the lighting of signs on our motorways, in particular the M50 where one could easily pass a junction because of inadequate lighting of the signs? We also need to ensure proper signposting for our visitors. For example, the N7 and N8 merge, but the only sign visitors coming from Dublin see is the one for Limerick. This is a simple example of something that could be done.
We are very offended in Cork.
The south is a large area and we would like it to be included. Will the Deputy Leader arrange for a debate on the issue of adult stem cells?
Recently we saw in Korea the terrible instance of a false dawn, where deliberately misleading information was given regarding the benefits of embryonic stem cells. Notwithstanding that, evidence is continuing to show the benefits of adult stem cell research and it is an area in which this country could make significant headway and reap considerable economic benefits.
I support Senator Feighan in his call for the unanimous support of this House for the undocumented Irish in the United States of America, who number approximately 50,000. They are marching in Washington today and given that at this time of year we will have Ministers attending St. Patrick's Day parades all over the United States, it is opportune to ask those Ministers to try to improve the plight of the undocumented Irish. This issue is raised in this House regularly. These people cannot come home even if their parents are very sick. They are missing family functions, weddings and so on because they are afraid to come home. We should do everything we can to support the Kennedy-McCain Bill currently going through Congress in America.
Senators Finucane, Ryan, Ormonde, Quinn, Coghlan and Hanafin spoke about road safety matters. Senator Finucane mentioned the international safety conference and made some valuable points in that regard. He also referred to recommendations that were made some time ago. This is an area to which we should return and invite the Minister to the House to discuss it.
The Senator is correct in what he said about penalty points. People should be made aware of what the new offences are, although there has been much publicity in the newspapers concerning the offences that attract penalty points. Perhaps the Government should consider taking out full-page advertisements in the national press before the new regime is put in place, to advise people of the nature of the offences in question.
I agree with Senator Finucane's other point about fragmentation. One often wonders whether responsibility lies with the Department of Transport or the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It seems to go around in a vacuum in the ether. I note what Senator Ryan had to say regarding driving in housing estates in Scandinavia, which appears to be a good idea.
The matter of speeding trucks was raised by Senator Ormonde and Senator Ryan has raised it on previous occasions. They are quite right. It is frightening driving down the Naas dual carriageway——
Hear, hear. Especially at night.
——where the lanes are very restrictive and trucks are speeding along. Yesterday evening when I was driving home a truck passed me travelling well in excess of 60 mph. Apparently bus drivers also break the speed limits. Senator Quinn raised the matter of number plate recognition, which has been very successful in other jurisdictions. It should be rolled out here.
Frequently people resort to the Constitution as a refuge when they are caught and are not convicted as a result. I am not saying the Constitution should necessarily be amended but it seems that people at certain levels can hire very expensive and capable lawyers to get them off on offences for which other people are convicted.
Senator Hanafin made a good point regarding road signs and in that context, I think of a junction on the N7, somewhere near Kildare. Some signs for towns appear after one has passed the junction. If one is going to Waterford, for example, the signs for that county appear after one has passed the relevant junction. That is extraordinary and is inviting people to reverse, which is not something that should happen on a motorway.
Senator O'Toole raised the matter of death in custody. Obviously we all regret the fact that anybody would die in Garda custody. In the case in question, a post mortem has been carried out and the findings are that the individual died of natural causes. The family of the deceased have asked for an independent post mortem to be carried out, as is their right.
Going beyond that to the issue of the Garda ombudsman or an independent body, Senator O'Toole suggested that we have an independent assessment of these matters. There is some merit in that argument. These issues are open to debate and were also raised by Senator Norris. Senator Maurice Hayes also spoke about the Garda ombudsman, as did Senator Coghlan.
Senator Ryan raised the matter of the amendment. It is up to the Cathaoirleach to decide whether an amendment is in order and I will not enter into that debate. However, if the Senator is inviting us to vote down the motion, we will quite happily do that this evening.
I would like that.
"Happily" is an interesting choice of word.
I will come to Senator Norris in a moment.
I am quite sure the Senator will.
He should not be impatient.
There should be a debate on social housing and that matter was also mentioned by Senator Maurice Hayes. The practice of builders buying themselves out of their social housing obligations appears to be prevalent. I often wonder what county councils do when they receive the money.
They claim they spend it on housing but there is no evidence of that.
Some of the statistics I heard at a recent local authority briefing for Oireachtas Members were pretty depressing regarding social and affordable housing and the progress that has been made to date. The related matter of homelessness was also raised by Senator Ryan.
The parole board was also raised but I do not think the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform ever said that "life was life".
The Taoiseach said it.
Perhaps he did, but I am not aware that the Minister ever said it.
I thought they were part of the same Government, but I am not sure anymore.
It is a mandatory sentence, as we all know. The origins of the sentence review go back to the time of the death penalty in this jurisdiction and in the United Kingdom. Applications for reprieve were on the Home Secretary's desk and he moved little black balls around as people got closer to being executed. The review process is based on the discretion that the Home Secretary had to reprieve a death sentence. The life sentence has risen from seven to 15 years and is under constant review to determine the most appropriate tariff.
Senator Maurice Hayes raised the matter of the European convention but I am not sure of the answer to his question. Senator Jim Walsh is correct in his assessment of tribunals. They have an obligation, under the instruments by which they were set up, to report back to the Oireachtas at certain points. However, they seem to go on for a very long time and commissions of inquiry or investigation are preferable for dealing with some, though not all, controversial matters.
Senator Bannon wants a debate on the good management of the public finances——
I want a debate on the wastage. I thought the Progressive Democrats were the watchdog party in Government.
——and we would be happy to accommodate him. I do not know if he is going to Cheltenham next week by helicopter, but some of his colleagues might consider doing that.
Senator Ormonde raised the services directive on which there was a very good discussion with Commissioner McCreevy at the Forum for Europe. Given some of the observations made regarding reform of the Seanad and an increased role for the House with regard to EU affairs, this is something that could be usefully debated here.
I join Senators Norris and Leyden in welcoming the generosity of the person who has donated the original copy of the 1916 declaration. It is good to see that we still have some patriots left in the country and that not everybody is governed by filthy lucre. I note what Senator Leyden said regarding the proclamation, which should be in an accessible place. It should be possible to see it, with proper security in place. I would not like to see it put behind a glass case.
It is behind a glass case.
It is behind a frame of glass, but is not in a glass case. It is in a good place and I am happy with its current location.
Senator Leyden stands corrected.
I agree with Senator Norris with regard to the soldiers and support the recognition of anybody who served at any time during the history of the State. I also agree with his observation that the contribution of the two soldiers who survived the Niemba ambush should have been recognised long before now. I do not have to add anything to what Senator Norris said about the Minister for Education and Science. He praised her so highly that anything I might say would be superfluous.
Senator McHugh called for a debate on health matters, with which I agree. I do not know if the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children has ever been invited to the hospital in question.
I am inviting her there today.
The fact that she may not have gone to the hospital in question may have to do with the fact that she did not receive an invitation.
It would be hard to find a member of the Progressive Democrats in County Donegal.
I will not coerce her but I will encourage her to visit Donegal. I accept Senator McHugh's point, County Donegal being a large geographical area. The number of beds to population may suggest provision of beds is great but the geographical area is a large one.
Senators Glynn, Feeney and Feighan spoke about the spiking of drinks, a serious issue. I also noted that it is the drinks themselves are the problem rather than the spiking of them. There is evidence that spiking does occur.
Senator Quinn raised the matter of avian flu and there has been a serious decline in poultry consumption. He was correct in saying no health risks to humans are associated with poultry consumption. There are other bugs in poultry that are far more serious than avian flu. There is also the knock-on effect on grain. It would be useful if a reassurance campaign was initiated by the Health and Safety Authority or some other agency to encourage people to continue eating poultry.
Today is International Women's Day and there was already a function this morning to mark the event with another one tomorrow. Senators White and Feeney are correct that it should be debated in the Chamber. On the matter of representation, I was not sure whether Senator Norris was an old woman——
The Senator should never call anyone an old woman. That is ageism.
I meant whether it is necessary for him to be an honorary woman or if he is already one.
That is sexism.
I will not adjudicate on that.
Senator Feighan spoke about today's march in Washington by illegal Irish immigrants in a campaign to legalise their status in the United States. That is the subject of the motion on the Order Paper, signed by all party leaders to encourage the US Congress to act on the matter.
I dealt with the scientific issue raised by Senator Hanafin. I note his comments on adult stem cell research which could be usefully debated.