The Order of Business is No. 1 - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013 [Dáil] — All Stages, to be taken at 11.45 a.m, with the contribution of group spokespersons to the debate not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, with Committee and Remaining Stages to be taken immediately on the conclusion of the debate on Second Stage; and No. 2 - motion re statement for the information of voters on the referendum, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate.
Order of Business
Yesterday, Enterprise Ireland published its annual report and accounts for 2012. While we have been preoccupied with austerity and troika targets, in the real economy the annual report of Enterprise Ireland tells us Irish companies and Irish entrepreneurs have achieved record export sales in 2012, breaking the €16.2 billion point for the first time. Enterprise Ireland client companies exported more in 2012 than at any time in the history of the State. Hundreds of Irish entrepreneurs, from web companies established by young people to major companies like Kerrygold, Glanbia and Dairygold, achieved a rise of €1 billion in sales last year, bringing the total in the year to €16.2 billion. Ireland is a small, open economy with a population of just over 4.5 million. Companies must grow their export sales in order to grow the company and to increase employment. The Enterprise Ireland annual report shows that client companies generated a net increase in full-time employment of 3,300, primarily driven by the record export performance. The major multinational companies are located in major urban population centres. Irish companies are regionally based, and the salaries and wages they provide are spent in shops and cafes in every community in the country, keeping the local economy alive. The annual report also deserves to be number one on the bestseller list and recommended for summer reading to read about the Irish heroes, small and big, who are turning around our economy and laying the basis for prosperity for the future.
Enterpreneurship is recognised both nationally and internationally as a key driver of economic growth, playing a critical role in creating employment and fostering innovation. International studies show that women entrepreneurs are seriously lagging behind their male counterparts and Ireland reflects this international trend with women early-stage entrepreneurs in Ireland outnumbered two to one by men. It is a very sad story. Increasing the number of women entrepreneurs in Ireland will add jobs for both men and women and will make a significant contribution to our economic recovery.
All Members will have received this morning a copy of the policy paper - Promoting Women Entrepreneurs in Ireland: Fresh Thinking on Employment Solutions for Promoting Women Entrepreneurs in Ireland.
We have.
It is a Fianna Fáil policy paper authored by me and it will be launched this afternoon.
We cannot have political launches in the Chamber.
Why not?
It is a very important document.
This is very important; it is about Irish women. Unless we include in our competitiveness Irish women's talents and potential we are not internationally competing-----
Hear, hear.
-----we are not generating the potential and encouraging Irish women, and developing the potential of Ireland. In my report Members will read that there are many barriers to women entrepreneurs.
That is certainly a Dáil speech for Dublin South, Fine Gael should step aside.
We will have to have a proper debate on the budget and on the employment issue in the autumn.
The Senator is way over time.
Before I call Senator Bacik, I am sure the Members of the House would like to join me in welcoming Mr. Jo-Anick Proulx, the manager of Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site Parks in Canada. He is very welcome to Seanad Éireann and the Irish Parliament, and we wish him well during his stay here. I call Senator Bacik.
I commend Senator Mary White on the publication of that paper which raises an important issue. It should be a matter of concern to Government that so few entrepreneurs are women, like so few politicians are women and again we have to look at positive action measures to increase the number of women. I welcome that paper.
In this session Senator White has also been responsible for producing an excellent Bill on paternity leave, which was accepted by the Government on Second Stage. This is the kind of work that the Seanad excels at, like Senator Quinn's Construction Contracts Bill that we finally passed yesterday.
Hear, hear.
Hear, hear.
That is the sort of initiative that we should be promoting in this Chamber more and more, and that is where the Seanad really shows it strength.
I agree with Senator White on the need for a pre-budget debate and I have already called on the Leader to facilitate that. In that debate we need to examine fairly the issue of stimulus packages and the need for stimulus. Earlier this week a stimulus package was announced which went under the radar. I refer colleagues to it and ask that we would consider more measures like these in our debate in the autumn. This is the initiative of Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, in which she has allocated €10 million of funding this year alone and plans to allocate more funding over future years under the energy efficiency programme for local authority homes. This will have huge benefit in terms of stimulating the economy by creating jobs in retrofitting local authority homes. It will also have a knock-on effect of reducing energy bills for families and increasing our commitment to sustainable measures to combat climate change. On a number of levels this is an important package and it is the sort of measure that we should be looking at increasing in the coming budget. Even €10 million spent on a project like retrofitting existing local authority homes can have a hugely beneficial impact on local economies and the national economy.
I welcome the passage last night, by a decisive majority, of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. It was an historic day. I am very proud that this Government has finally after 21 years legislated to protect the lives of women. Many of the contributions in this House were excellent and we had in general very measured contributions by many Senators. Not to be harping on Senator White again, and apologies for focusing on her, but her contribution was strong in terms of acknowledging the failures of successive Governments, including Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour during those 21 years in failing to legislate until now.
I wish everyone well for the break ahead and look forward to a very dynamic few weeks of Seanad activity in September before the referendum on 4 October. It is up to all of us to make the case for Seanad retention and reform. The focus will be on this House in September like never before. We can all expect that. I look forward to a robust campaign in which we make the case very strongly, through our own conduct, initiatives and work we do in this House, for retention and reform of the Seanad.
I would also like to join in wishing all colleagues well for what is a well-earned summer break. We have a good deal of work to do in the autumn. I obviously could not agree with what Senator Bacik said about the passage of the Government's abortion legislation. Many people - more than those who voted against it in the Seanad - realise that this is a tragic moment for Ireland. What generally happens when abortion is legalised is that the problem does not end, it only starts. One issue on which we could all unite-----
We are not opening up yesterday's debate today.
Yes, I agree. One issue on which we could all unite in the autumn, and I ask the Leader if he would agree with me on this, is that we need a debate on how we can work together to prevent abortions from happening. We have to look out for women and children in that respect. In recent days we have had the tragic story - the detail of which I will not go into - of a woman who died in England after an abortion in a Marie Stopes clinic and the 20-week old child who died. They have to be at the heart of our concern. One matter that concerns me, in particular, was the hypocrisy of the Irish Family Planning Association - this is very relevant - which said and used the strategy-----
Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
I ask the Leader if he would agree with me that it was wrong of it to use this tragic case to make the case for legalising abortion in Ireland when in fact there are serious questions-----
Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
I am asking the Leader about the serious questions that this organisation may have to face because we know-----
What about the hypocrisy of the Iona Institute and all the lies it told-----
Senator Norris, please. Senator Mullen, all those points were made during the debate yesterday.
Let us hear it for the Iona Institute.
Senator Norris, please. Senator Mullen, all those points were made during the debate yesterday.
Here is a brief quote from a counsellor in the IFPA counselling headquarters in Dublin to illustrate why this is important:
Now there is one clinic that I would not advise you to go to ... is Marie Stopes. Don't go near them, okay? So I am not saying they are dirty or anything but we've got a lot of complaints about them, okay? I don't send anyone there, and I wouldn't. So if Abortion Support Network suggest Marie Stopes, say "No".
Senator Mullen, those points were made yesterday.
On a point of order-----
Senator Bacik, on a point of order.
Senator Mullen is persisting in making unfounded allegations against an organisation, against which he has made unfounded allegations before in this House. He should stop.
Is that a point of order?
Senator, resume your seat.
Again, we have a breach of points of order in this House.
Senator Healy Eames, please, you have indicated that you wanted to speak.
Senator Bacik is very good at doing that.
I am concluding. That was said by a counsellor in the IFPA counselling headquarters in Dublin.
Unfounded allegations.
We know that at the time this unfortunate woman died, the IFPA and other-----
Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
Yes. This is my question. The IFPA and other State-funded counsellors were advising women not to go to Marie Stopes but did they blow the whistle publicly? Did they tell the crisis pregnancy programme, did they tell the HSE or did they tell the Minister for Health?
Senator Mullen, all those points were made during the debate yesterday. The Senator is completely out of order.
It seems that if they did not do that not only are they guilty of hypocrisy-----
The Senator is completely out of order.
-----and not only may they be indirectly responsible for botched abortions that endanger women's health and lives-----
It is a Government organisation. It is a valid question.
-----but they may very well be in the criminal zone as well and be liable for gross negligence. Instead of Senator Bacik trying to-----
Is the Senator proposing an amendment to the Order of Business?
We need a debate about this in the autumn because how can we be serious about preventing abortions if State-funded crisis pregnancy counselling agencies are not putting the word out that there are concerns about Marie Stopes and other abortion providers? It is not enough to be whispering to women who come to their clinics that they should not go to Marie Stopes.
The Senator is way over time.
There is a very serious human dignity issue here.
I was interested to note today that Dublin City Council's research on Dubliners' attitudes towards a directly elected mayor show that approximately 61% of the 1,200 people surveyed were interested in having a directly elected mayor while only 14% were against the proposition, citing costs as the main reason against it. It seems there is a great appetite for having a directly elected mayor who would have functions with regard to planning, waste management and resource provision. One interesting comment I note from the current mayor, Oisín Quinn, was that he believes, and I would agree with him, that the mayor and his managers should be brought before councillors once a month for a grilling on how they are running Dublin services and spending its money. I agree with this.
That is matter for a city council meeting.
Yes, a city council meeting, but the chairman at present does not get-----
Perhaps he does not understand how it works yet.
Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
My question for the Leader is to call for a debate with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on this issue in the new term.
On behalf of my colleagues I commend the Fianna Fáil acting leader, Senator Mary White, on the production of what is an excellent document and I wish her well on its launch. I also commend her on the Parental Leave Bill 2013 and I commend the Government for accepting it on Second Stage. I hope we can move through Committee and Report Stages quickly. I commend Senator Quinn on his Bill which was completed yesterday. He stated it took 1,168 days to get the Bill through the Houses. I do not want to see Senator White's Bill take the same length of time and I do not see any reason why it should.
In the main this has been a productive session and I wish all my colleagues on all sides of the House a restful break with time to spend with their families and friends. Will the Leader confirm the date on which we will return? I do not agree with the House being adjourned sine die. It does not send out a good sign-----
Hear, hear.
-----from the House, particularly in advance of the referendum, and it does not reflect well upon us. The Leader has done his level best to ensure, during this and previous sessions, that the House, as far as possible, projects itself very well, and I ask him to set a date for our return before we leave.
Senator White will never be allowed to be acting leader of the Opposition again because she said positive things about the country.
On a more serious note, I call for a debate when we return in the autumn on the appropriateness of Members of either House accepting gifts from far-right groups in the United States, such as fully funded trips. I call for a discussion on this.
What is the Senator speaking about?
It is covered under ethics legislation.
On a point of order, very serious allegations were made in the House by another Labour Party Senator last week which have not been substantiated and which he will not take any further-----
The Senator has spoken already and I ask him to resume his seat.
The privilege of the House should not be used by Senator Gilroy to make unfounded remarks.
Senator O'Brien, please resume your seat.
Labour Party Senators are making such comments one day after another.
The Senator has spoken already.
It is important-----
The Senator has spoken already.
-----that the integrity of privilege-----
That is not a point of order.
-----is protected. Senator Gilroy cannot throw out something like that and not back it up.
I am not making any-----
This is a matter for the Standards in Public Office Commission.
I am not sure SIPO will comment on it, but it is important that we in the House have a conversation on it.
It is a matter for the legislation.
I am not making an allegation about anyone in particular. I am just stating if such practices are occurring it might be no harm for the House to discuss it.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
My question to the Leader is whether we can discuss the matter among ourselves in the House. I am absolutely certain-----
Did the Senator get donations from any labour union for his campaign?
I did, and they were fully accounted to SIPO.
Does Senator Gilroy have a question for the Leader?
This is my question for the Leader. I hope we might be able to organise a conversation about it.
I join in the good wishes to everybody for an enjoyable and restful summer. One person in Leinster House who will not be coming back, because he is retiring after 40 years of service, is Kieran Coughlan, the Secretary General. He has had a long career during which he was the Clerk Assistant of the Seanad, which is undoubtedly a post that leads to great things, as well as being involved in the New Ireland Forum, and he is now the Clerk of the Dáil. I can say I have known him longer than anybody else in the House because we lived next door to each other as infants. We had lost touch, and one of the most pleasant surprises I had upon coming here was to find my former next door neighbour in the position he holds. I wish him, and all our staff who look after us so splendidly, an enjoyable summer.
I endorse the welcome for Mr. Jo-Anick Proulx, the manager of the Grosse-Île and Irish Memorial National Historic Site park on the Saint Lawrence river. It is a very moving place. He has custody of the largest Celtic cross in the world, which commemorates approximately 7,000 Irish people who left the famine ships and died there. It is an aspect of the diaspora to which we have not paid much attention. Many Irish migrants to Quebec became French speakers, and this is a very strong tradition, notably in Montreal, where Thomas D'Arcy McGee is celebrated with his own pew in Saint Patrick's Basilica. Mr. Proulx is looking forward to meeting Senator Brennan, who told us the artefacts from Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the founders of the Canadian Confederation, were stored here but have been removed to Carlingford, his home town, in County Louth.
Interestingly, yesterday I received an e-mail from one of my former classmates in Canada who stated he would not worry about the Taoiseach's plan to get rid of our crowd, because it is almost impossible to jettison senates, as they know well in Canada. He expects it is a ploy to distract the electorate from the real problems of government, which he states in Ireland's case are rather overwhelming. I commend this Canadian intervention in the debate.
Hear, hear.
For the first time I wish to commend SUSI, the centralised third level grants organisation. In recent days I received a call from somebody in SUSI inviting me to the facility. This invitation is open to all Oireachtas Members who wish to see the new streaming system which has been put in place for the upcoming academic term. Let us hope the young people of Ireland in need of third level grants will receive them much more quickly and that lessons will have been learnt from last year's scenario.
I wish Kieran Coghlan the very best in his retirement. He has always been an absolute gentleman and full of friendly advice. When I started here first he was always available and gave advice, and in his contribution to the House and politics in general has been outstanding.
Hear, hear.
I hope the fine weather has not finished and we will have a few more weeks of it. I wish everyone a very nice holiday, and I suggest those holidaying at home could not pick anywhere better to go than County Clare.
We will stay in Senator Conway's place.
I wish to raise an important case concerning whistleblowing which has been brought to my attention. I will not name the individual because I know it is not the practice of the House. A 59-year-old German national who is a former employee of IBM Ireland's sales division reported apparent and alleged irregularities in IBM Ireland's sales figures this year. She was brought to court by the company because it was seeking equipment she had - namely, a laptop and a USB stick.
If the case is before the courts it is sub judice.
I wish to make a point and I can stray from the court case to do so. The woman is being pursued through the courts. She has lost everything, including her job, and is effectively homeless. She is facing jail-----
She is readily identifiable.
With respect, this is in the context of-----
Does the Senator seek a debate on the issue?
Yes. This is in the context of the Protected Disclosures Bill 2013, which has been published. We must have a debate on it and see it progress. We must protect whistleblowers. Consider the stark contrast between the treatment of whistleblowers and others. Here is an individual who has lost everything and is facing jail, but not one of the bankers who brought down the State is facing jail. This appals people and I appeal to the Leader of the House to ensure the legislation is on the agenda during the next term. Let us ensure we protect whistleblowers and that we do not have situations in which they face custodial sentences, homelessness and job loss for telling the truth.
I wish colleagues a pleasant break. Contrary to all the reports in the media, we will not be spending all of our time sunning ourselves. I remind Senator Mullen, in case he is not aware of it, that a file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK about the particular case he mentioned and that the couple concerned-----
We are not reopening yesterday's debate.
-----who are resident in Ireland-----
All of these points were raised during yesterday's debate.
-----had investigated the possibility of the termination in Ireland on health grounds. This is something we may be visiting in the Chamber.
Hear, hear.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Yes, I do. Colleagues may have noticed that the CSO has reported that property prices have increased annually for the first time since January 2008. Other colleagues in the House have been very concerned about the issue of mortgage-based repossessions. The first tranche of reporting on mortgage arrears resolutions, which require the banks to reach agreements with distressed borrowers, is due to take place in September.
I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate, to be taken by the Minister for Finance, on the issue of mortgage repossessions and the banking system in general, at the first possible opportunity after the recess.
I join Senators in complimenting my colleague, Senator Mary White, who has championed the cause of women very effectively in this House. I agree with her fully regarding the need for greater participation by women in different sectors of society, particularly enterprise.
I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments regarding the recess. It is imperative that we do not adjourn sine die. In fact, I would suggest that we return the week before the Dáil resumes to facilitate debate on a range of issues, particularly in the run-up to the referendum on the abolition of this House. We should do so not in our own interests but in the interests of democracy in this State.
Reference was made to the views of people who were described as being on the far right. All I can say in response is that if it considered "far right" to seek to defend human rights, including the right to life, and protect the most vulnerable, then it says a lot about the mindset of those making that accusation.
I join Senator Sean Barrett in paying compliment to the Clerk of the Dáil, Mr. Kieran Coughlan, with whom I served on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission for several years during the last Seanad. I found him to be an absolute gentleman with a very sound guiding hand on the workings of the Oireachtas.
Will the Leader inquire whether information that was in the hands of the Irish Family Planning Association regarding dangerous practices at Marie Stopes clinics was brought to the attention of the Minister for Health and the Health Service Executive and, if so, what was been done in response? While every woman does not die during an abortion, many are seriously afflicted subsequently by anguish and guilt. The truncation of yesterday's debate meant that-----
Why is the Senator raising this issue now?
A Chathaoirligh, the Senator is out of order.
That debate is concluded, Senator Walsh.
I am putting a question to the Leader. I asked the Minister yesterday to outline what support services and counselling are being put in place for women who have abortions.
All of those issues were raised during the debate, over many months.
No, they were not. With absolute respect, the only reason I am raising this issue now is that we did not have an opportunity to do so yesterday. We broke unnecessarily for an hour and a half, as the Cathaoirleach knows.
The Senator is over time.
The debate was truncated. I am merely asking the Leader that we have a debate on this issue in the autumn, in the interests of those poor women who suffer anguish as a consequence of abortion. The first week of our return would be a good time to have that discussion with the Minister.
In regard to charges and allegations of bribery and corruption against certain individuals, I suggest that we have a debate on our return on the most recent report of the Standards in Public Office Commission. That will afford us an opportunity to discuss these matters more fully.
I do not wish to return to anything that was raised during the debate on a particular Bill, but I hope the Cathaoirleach, in his capacity as a member of the Council of State, will be paying a visit to Áras an Úachtaráin shortly. It is my hope that the President will call in the council and thereafter refer this particular legislation to the courts.
We are not discussing the role and functions of the President.
I am fully respectful of the fact that this is a matter for the sole discretion of the President. We all had our own difficulties with the legislation-----
The Senator knows well that the President is entirely independent in the exercise of his powers.
I am moving away from that. I wish to tell the story of two very wise retired nuns I met some time ago when I was agonising over the legislation in question. Everybody knows my view on the suicide clause and so on.
We are not reopening yesterday's debate.
I am not seeking to do so. When I was discussing the matter with these two good ladies, who served their full working lives on the missions in the Philippines and elsewhere, I put a hard case to them and confided that I was agonising over the issue myself. They asked whether I really thought women would wait around to be certified by three doctors, possibly go to appeal and so on-----
I have already said that we cannot revisit yesterday's debate. I am calling Senator David Norris.
I have no intention in the wide earthly world of reopening the debate.
It is not relevant to today's Order of Business.
It is relevant to what I am recommending and what I hope will happen, which would involve the Cathaoirleach himself.
Does Senator Coghlan have a guilty conscience?
I have called Senator Norris.
I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 18, Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2013 - Second Stage, be taken today. We have already agreed in principle that the Bill should proceed, and I see no reason that it should not be taken today. If we are going to do our work, this is how we should do it. Let us deal with the legislation and then send it down to the Dáil to make whatever amendments it wants. That House has been dithering on this issue for four years while, in the meantime, people's lives are at stake. The Bill is necessary to protect people in this State.
I watched with ironic amusement yesterday as the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, talked about giving the people the chance to have their say on the future of the Seanad. He and his colleagues in government did everything they could, throughout their political careers, to keep the people as far away as possible from the Seanad. That type of hypocrisy must be exposed. Even if the referendum is endorsed by the people, there will be two and a half years for the crowd in the other Chamber to find their courage. I expect the dead sheep will give them a bit of a push-----
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
Yes. I have proposed an amendment to the Order of Business.
Second, as co-ordinator of our group, I democratically orchestrated a situation whereby Senator Rónán Mullen was permitted to speak first. I have no difficulty with that, but I wish to disassociate myself completely from his outrageous remarks.
Senator, please.
There is no respectfulness when we have the professional reputation of organisations and individuals being impugned and semi-criminal charges being made in this House. I disassociate myself totally from those remarks.
(Interruptions).
Will the Senator respect the Chair?
On the other hand, I support colleagues' remarks regarding the retirement of the Clerk of the Dáil, Mr. Kieran Coghlan, with whom I served for many years. He is a classic example of the best kind of parliamentary officer, being quiet, totally professional and widely knowledgeable. I wish him well in his retirement. I also take this opportunity, on the last day of the session, to express my thanks to the staff of the House who, despite very poor resources and backup, do an excellent job and are thoroughly professional. Likewise, the staff of the Oireachtas Library do an outstanding job in circumstances where they do not enjoy the support and technical advantages they should. We should be very grateful for their level of professional expertise.
Senator David Norris made reference to dead sheep. I have been called many things in my time, but that is a new one. I do not appreciate the remark.
I cannot hear what the Senator is saying.
Does Senator Harte have a question for the Leader?
I congratulate Senator Mary White on her initiative. Any effort to promote local business is vital to the economy and to local communities. I wish her well in her endeavours.
We learned this week that the closing date for third level grant applications to Student Universal Support Ireland is next Friday week. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Education and Skills to the House when we return in September to update us on progress in the processing of grant applications? There was almighty confusion last year and I have no doubt we will all have received representations by that stage. It is important that students, their parents and the public know what is happening. It certainly would be good to have an update from the Minister rather than through the press.
I take this opportunity to wish colleagues an enjoyable and sunny summer break. Perhaps Senator Martin Conway will consider driving up from Clare to Donegal, where there are more beaches than anywhere else in the country. The Leader and Cathaoirleach might also pay us a visit.
I wish the Cathaoirleach and colleagues on both sides of the House an enjoyable summer break. We would all agree that it has been a tough term which has tested us greatly. We deserve a break. We are in a very privileged position, as Members of the Oireachtas, to seek out and defend the truth. Truth must be at the heart of everything we do.
Previous speakers referred to seeking the results of the investigation initiated by the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, into serious allegations and real concerns about the protection of women's lives on the part of the Irish Family Planning Association, IFPA.
We are not reopening yesterday's debate.
Those were unfounded allegations.
I am not going to go there. I merely wish to make a request. A senior and very fine public servant, Ms Bridget McManus-----
The Senator cannot place on the record of the House the names of individuals who are not here to defend themselves.
The woman in question was appointed to head up the investigation to which I refer. I request that the relevant report be made available in the autumn. We have gone to bat in the context of protecting women's lives. Let us ensure that they will be protected in every jurisdiction. I have seen transcripts which indicate that the IFPA has been whispering to girls that they should not go to the Marie Stopes clinic.
These are unfounded allegations.
If that is the case, let us have the truth. There should be no cover-up. I take issue with the fact that Senator Bacik seems to have a difficulty with my trying to protect women's lives.
One would think Senator Bacik was on some kind of-----
I would appreciate it if the results of the investigation - which has been in train for eight months - could be finalised and made available in the autumn.
Senator Bacik is only a pseudo-----
I will not take abuse from Senator Walsh, who recently brought low the reputation of this House with his antics.
I support Senator Norris with regard to the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2013. As the Cathaoirleach is aware, we debated the matter to which the latter relates when I introduced that legislation in December of 2012. While a welcome was given earlier in respect of Bills drafted by Senators on the opposite side of the House, I request that consideration also be given to legislation produced by those on this side.
Hear, hear.
I published two Bills, one of which is the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2012. Senator Norris and his colleagues published similar legislation - the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2013 - and I welcome that. I feel strongly about this issue because at present there is no law under which medical practitioners are required to have insurance. As a result, people who do not possess adequate insurance are coming in from abroad and providing medical treatments. This matter must be dealt with and it should not be placed on the back burner for a further four years. The first legislation relating to this matter was introduced by the current Minister for Health when he was in opposition, on 13 October 2009.
Is the Senator seconding the amendment to the Order of Business or is he supporting it?
I am outlining my view that Bills produced by Members of this House should be given serious consideration by the Government. In view of the fact that we have taken on board Bills drafted by those on the opposite side, I ask the Leader to afford the same treatment to those produced by Senators on this side.
Congratulations are due to Senator Colm Burke on the excellent Bill he produced and the good debate to which it gave rise.
I wish to confirm that in the context of remarks I made on the issue of hard-core pornography on Monday's Order of Business, I failed to attribute credit for some of them to the excellent journalist Eleanor Mills of The Sunday Times. I was in contact with Ms Mills this morning and I take this opportunity to urge Senators to read her article. I wish to place on record the fact that it was not my intention to claim credit for Ms Mills's remarks and I wanted to ensure that such credit is given where it is due.
Hear, hear.
We need investigative journalists such as Ms Mills because they bring issues such as that which was the subject of the article in question into the light. I thank the Leader for stating on Monday's Order of Business that he would make time available for a debate on this issue, to which Senator Clune referred during the course of last evening's debate. I welcome the indication from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, that he will prioritise the issue of protecting children from the dangers of hard-core pornography. I look forward to the debate on this matter.
I support Senator Healy Eames in her seeking of information with regard to the investigation she mentioned. I also echo Senator Norris's comments about the staff. They deserve a break much more than we do and I thank them for the work they do and for the support they have provided during the current term.
I support Senator Paul Coghlan's request for a debate on the role of the Standards in Public Office Commission and our role in respect of the latter. What Senator Gilroy was rightly trying to raise was the issue of lobbying. Part of the Government's reforms will be a register of lobbyists. If the Seanad engaged in a debate on how lobbyists work, how we are involved with them and how they interact with us - regardless of whether they are located here or abroad - that would be a valuable exercise in order to at least show that we understand the importance of this matter.
Hello?
I ask Senator Norris to turn off his phone.
It is not my phone. I left mine outside.
I was about to say that using terms such as "dead sheep" probably shows less respect for the Seanad than Senator Norris would like. Others on this side of the House who used expressions to the effect that we will all have "blood on our hands" are being equally disrespectful.
I never said that.
That is correct. However, the Senator did use the expression "dead sheep".
Yes, I did.
Does Senator O'Keeffe have a question for the Leader?
I am glad to see that the dead sheep has been revived.
The description is well deserved.
That is disgraceful.
Does Senator O'Keeffe have a question for the Leader?
I have supported Senator Paul Coghlan's call for a debate in respect of the Standards in Public Office Commission. I was about to state, in the context of disrespectful comments, that when we return in the autumn there may be a calmness in the House. In that context, I thank the staff of the Seanad for their endless patience during a difficult few weeks. We look forward to Jody Blake's return in the autumn.
I wish to inform those who may be available in August that next week, as part of the Yeats Summer School, I will be hosting possibly the first debate on the future of the Seanad with two wonderful former Senators, Dr. Mary Henry and Mr. John Horgan. We will be discussing the importance of scrutiny, the role the latter plays in politics and the role the Seanad has played in this regard. I trust this will form part of a robust debate on the Seanad and its future.
I second Senator Norris's amendment to the Order of Business. I wish to pay tribute to the acting leader of our group, Senator White, not only in respect of her contribution on the Order of Business but for the work she has done with regard to the policy document she and our party leader, Deputy Martin, will be launching this afternoon. I wish all Senators and the staff a happy holiday season.
Senator Mullen raised a very serious matter. Some other Senators may not like to hear this, but it is extremely serious when an organisation funded by the State is aware of information which indicates that an abortion clinic is dangerous to women's health and does not pass it on to vulnerable individuals who are in crisis. Some months ago, thanks to an undercover investigation conducted by the Irish Independent, we discovered that the Irish Family Planning Association was endangering-----
We are not reopening yesterday's debate.
-----the lives of vulnerable women by failing to pass on information regarding the Marie Stopes clinic.
On a point of order, once again, very serious allegations are being made.
That is not a point of order.
A number of Senators are making such allegations on a continual basis.
The organisation was passing on dangerous, illegal and life-endangering information.
Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?
This is a serious matter and it should not just be brushed aside by some Members of this House.
(Interruptions).
I support the call in respect of the publication of the McManus report. It is important that we be confident that State-funded organisations are providing safe and legal information to the women of this country. I will say no more on the matter.
I agree with Senator White that Enterprise Ireland's annual report paints a very positive picture of the country turning the corner with regard to job creation. I welcome the major emphasis the Government has placed on job creation and I take this opportunity to wish the Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, well for the remainder of his trade mission to China and Japan. I also welcome the opening of an IDA Ireland office in Beijing. This is a very positive development which will hopefully result in further investment in this country by Chinese companies.
I congratulate Senator White on her fine policy document which she presented to us this morning.
Hear, hear. It is a pity the wrong picture was included in The Irish Times.
Absolutely. Senator White has done this House some service. I hope the document she has produced will provide encouragement for the future to the many female entrepreneurs in Ireland.
I join colleagues in wishing the Cathaoirleach, the Members and all the staff of the House a safe and enjoyable holiday. I hope many of them will get an opportunity to enjoy many of The Gathering events being held throughout the length and breadth of the country. I wish everybody involved in The Gathering events well.
Hear, hear.
On behalf of the State we should thank them and congratulate them on the huge effort they have put in to ensure we have a substantially increased number of visitors to our country this summer.
Particularly in sunny east Galway.
There was some criticism of the Meath East by-election in the opening hours of the polls on that occasion.
(Interruptions).
There was criticism. I want to inquire of the Leader about the likely hours the polls will be open for the referendum on the abolition of the Seanad. We should make sure that a healthy vote takes place and that whatever are the correct hours of opening that criticism will not be levelled at the referendum for abolition of the Seanad, as happened during the Meath East by-election.
Senator Norris's amendment has been seconded and therefore I do not need to do that.
I thank the Senator for his support.
I want to thank the staff of the House for their work in the past year and wish them well for the summer. I include in that all the other helpers, including those in the Library and elsewhere. It has been a tough session. I think we deserve a break but I hope we will come back invigorated, enthusiastic and ready to fight for the survival of this House. I refer not just to the retention of the House but a reformed House in the future.
I congratulate Senator White on the launch of her policy document today and wish her well. Women entrepreneurs are important. I have three children, two of whom are now women, and both of them are self-employed entrepreneurs. The policy document is to encourage people to become entrepreneurs. My compliments to Senator White on raising it in the Seanad.
I compliment Senator Quinn also on the Construction Contracts Bill passed here yesterday evening. This House has done a service for contractors in Ireland that is second to none. Debates on legislation are rarely covered in the media, although the Order of Business is covered, but I want to congratulate Senator Quinn on that initiative. It will serve the construction business, and small builders, well.
I am spokesperson on the environment. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, has been busy in recent months. In the context of the Dublin mayoral election he established a Dublin forum last July under the stewardship of the then Lord Mayor, Naoise Ó Muirí, which is examining the agenda for the proposal. The Minister has said that the referendum on the mayor for Dublin will be held on the same day as the local elections but when we are discussing that in the Seanad we should have input from that report, which will have the benefit of the wisdom of the four mayors and the councillors. The Minister had asked them to consider far-reaching powers, functions and budgetary capacity that could be devolved to local government. That is a major initiative on which I compliment the Minister, Deputy Hogan, because he is serious about doing that. We have seen the changes he has made, including devolution of functions. All of that should be included in the upcoming debate on local government reform. We have been concentrating on the Seanad referendum but I refer to the issue of lowering the voting age, as recommended by the Constitutional Convention, to 16 and the age at which one can be nominated in a presidential election from 35 to 21 on which there will be a referendum before the end of 2015. Many referenda are due to be held and when the House returns in September, with the benefit of the reports from the councils and the Constitutional Convention, we should have a full debate on the many major initiatives the Minister for local government has announced. I, too, want to thank the staff for all the help they have given us over the years.
Ba mhaith liom aontú leis an Seanadóir agus gach rath a ghuí ar ghach duine don bhriseadh. I wish everybody well for the summer break, particularly the staff and everybody who supports us in Leinster House.
Yesterday, many Members of this House were caught up in our own dramas but it was a very dark day for people who stayed in another house over the years, namely, the people from the Bethany Home. An appalling decision about them was made yesterday and they are dismayed by the approach that is being taken to their plight.
I note also that we have not seen further progress on the Magdalen laundries issue, which we need to examine in the autumn. We should have a debate on redress for people who found themselves in State institutions who were not treated properly. I would include in that cohort the victims of symphysiotomy.
I accept the Cathaoirleach's ruling on my Adjournment matter but it is surprising that the Minister, Deputy Hogan, told us when we debated septic tanks in this House that he was very concerned about the standard of water in the State yet drinking water from 47 public systems is not under his official remit. It is important that we have a debate on the quality of public water because according to the Environmental Protection Agency remedial action list, RAL, report 47 public water systems in this State are in danger of being infected with cryptosporidium. We saw the damage that did in Galway, Roscommon and other areas. This is a very serious issue that poses a very serious danger and while Senators are reading Senator White's report during the summer they might read the EPA report as well because it affects many areas in their constituencies that might be dependent on these services.
On the Enterprise Ireland report, it is welcome that there has been an upturn in the export area but I am not sure if Senator Mullins noted that there is a regional imbalance in that respect. For some reason the west has not had the same job gains as other areas, which adds to the calls I have been making for specific debates on the regions, and the development of the regions, in the autumn.
I welcome that the Minister, Deputy Quinn, secured Cabinet approval in the meeting yesterday to continue to seek a 50-50 share of the costs by the four religious orders that we discussed last week for the victims who suffered abuse in residential institutions. It is very important that decision was made and I hope it will be strenuously pursued.
I welcome also the statement last night by the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, that an ex gratia payment will be paid to the 35 women who were left out of the original Our Lady of Lourdes hospital redress scheme on the grounds of their age. I spoke with some of the ladies last night who were relieved that this was the end of a very long journey and that their pain and suffering has finally been acknowledged. Speaking with them I knew that meant more to them than even the financial compensation they are due. While I was disappointed that we did not have the Walsh report, something I have called for continuously in the past two years, I understand the matter was taken up at Cabinet yesterday where further information was sought by Cabinet members and that the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, will meet with various representatives of the women next week. I hope we will have a successful outcome to that in the near future because it was promised before the end of this term. I call on the Leader again to ensure we have a debate on this matter. I share Senator Ó Clochartaigh's disappointment at the announcement that the Bethany Home survivors were not included.
Hear, hear.
That is another issue on which we should have a debate in the autumn. I thank the members of staff in every department throughout the House and wish them, and my colleagues, a happy summer break.
I wish to inform the Leader and the House that I will seek the recall of the Seanad in August. I do so for the 650 people in Ireland awaiting organ transplantation. I will be asking 20 Senators to sign a letter to bring the Minister for Health before the Seanad to explain the reason he signed a flawed piece of legislation on organ donation and transplantation into Irish law.
The Minister must be held to account and must be asked the reason he signed this European Union directive directly into Irish law without consulting the Seanad, the Dáil or the Joint Committee on Health and Children. The Government's lack of scrutiny and debate on this measure, which is the first organ transplantation legislation in the history of the State, was a missed opportunity on its part to bring Ireland's infrastructure up to the 21st-century standards the citizens awaiting organ transplantation deserve. Mark Murphy of the Irish Kidney Association has described-----
The Senator should refrain from using people's names on the record of the House, as they are not here to defend themselves.
The Senator's party did nothing for ten years on this issue.
What is Senator Burke talking about?
Senator Daly, without interruption.
Mark Murphy of the Irish Kidney Association-----
Senator, I asked you to refrain from using people's names on the record of the House, as they are not here to defend themselves.
I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Irish Kidney Association has described the Minister's signing of this European Union directive directly into Irish law without scrutiny as the worst implementation of this directive by any European Union member state. Last year, as the Leader is aware, I tried to have the Seanad recalled on this issue and was blocked unlawfully by the Government. If it tries to do that again this year, I will go to the High Court to seek a court order to ensure this directive is scrutinised before the deadline for its scrutiny expires on 28 August.
I join my colleagues in complimenting Senator White on her initiative and to wish her well in the launching of her report later today. Moreover, one should reflect on the praise that has been heaped on the Minister, Deputy Hogan. Having proposed the dismantling of local democracy at the lowest level and of regional democracy through the lack of elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta, the thought has struck me that had a constitutional restraint not been placed on the Government in respect of this House, it also would have brought forward proposals seeking its abolition and would have used its unprecedented majority in both Houses to push them through. I hope people will be aware of that.
The referendum will come within a week or two of what probably will be another severely austere budget, in which €3 billion will be taken out of an Irish economy that already is staggering under the weight of heavy taxation and in which the most vulnerable are being attacked and the people should remember this. I also issue a challenge to the 35 nominating bodies, which represent hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, as if this referendum is passed, they also will be deprived of a direct line to the democratic process. These professional people, grouped in 35 nominating bodies that have been involved actively in lobbying and in making representations to Senators over many decades, should mobilise their people because they also will lose this important arm of the democratic process. I also join colleagues who have wished Kieran Coughlan well in his retirement.
Hear, hear.
I had the honour and privilege of serving in my first term in this House when Kieran Coughlan was Clerk of the Seanad before Deirdre Lane took over. He subsequently went on to continue a distinguished public career. I wish him well and endorse the views from all sides of the House in wishing the staff well in the break and I thank them for all their help and co-operation.
Before calling on the Leader, I wish Jody Blake, the Clerk Assistant, a speedy return to good health from her recent illness. I also thank the Clerk, Deirdre Lane, and Martin Groves, who has been thrown in at the deep end in recent weeks. I also thank Debbie Canning, Jason Kiernan and Aisling Hart in the Seanad Office for the tremendous work they have done in the face of their heavy workload in recent weeks. I also thank and wish a good holiday to the staff of the House, who are tremendous to work with. Finally, I wish the Secretary General, Kieran Coughlan, a good and happy retirement. He was both Clerk Assistant and Clerk of this House from 1984 to 1990 before becoming Clerk of the Dáil and subsequently becoming both Secretary General and Clerk of the Dáil. He has been an outstanding public official over many years and Members wish him well in his retirement, as well as a happy and long retirement.
I commend Senator White on the publication of her document in respect of women entrepreneurs and am in complete agreement with her. Most of the entrepreneurs I know are women and are excellent people. I commend her on her efforts to bring forward this document, as well as noting her comments in respect of the Enterprise Ireland annual report and on the success of, and upturn in, exports and the work of entrepreneurs nationwide. Whatever about reading the report during the summer, I certainly will read it before the summer is out.
Senator Bacik spoke on energy efficiency measures and the retrofitting of local authority houses. I agree with her and that matter has been raised by Senator Hayden and others in recent days. Senators Mullen, Walsh and others spoke on the McManus report and matters that may have arisen in respect of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. I will not enter into that debate again, as Members have had comprehensive debate on the matter in recent weeks.
There was no comprehensive debate on the pregnancy counselling agencies.
Senator Noone spoke on the attitudes of Dublin people regarding directly-elected mayors. I also note Senator Keane's remarks to the effect that a Dublin forum has been set up involving all four local authorities. I look forward to its report and to debating that matter. However, it is interesting that it appears as though the vast majority of Dublin people would like to have a directly-elected mayor.
Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke to compliment his colleague, Senator White. The Senator also sought the date on which the House would return and for the information of Members, the Seanad will return on 18 September. Senator Gilroy raised matters relating to ethics and the Standards in Public Office Commission, as did Senator O'Keeffe. That matter should be referred and Senator O'Keeffe also sought a debate on the role of lobbyists. Perhaps this can be arranged in the context of the Standards in Public Office Commission annual report. Senator Barrett and many other Senators wished the Secretary General of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service, Kieran Coughlan, well. He has given tremendous service to the Houses of the Oireachtas and to the Irish people and I am sure all Members will join me in wishing him well in his retirement.
Senator Conway and others raised the issue of third level grants and Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, and the fact the system has been streamlined. All Members hope the problems everyone witnessed in this regard over the past year will have been sorted out by the time people again apply for grants.
Senator Cullinane raised the Protected Disclosures Bill and I will try to find out when it will be debated in the House, that is, whether it will be in the autumn session or whatever. Senator Hayden spoke on property prices and the Central Statistics Office, CSO, report, as well as calling for a debate on mortgage repossessions and the banking system when Members return. I certainly will try to arrange such a debate.
Senator Norris moved an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 18, the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2013, be taken. I acceded to the request on Monday to have that Bill published but I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business that the matter be dealt with today. The Bill is very similar to that which Senator Colm Burke had accepted on Second Stage but I reiterate I do not propose to accept the amendment to the Order of Business.
Senator Colm Burke also spoke in respect of the Private Members' Bill. May I compliment Members from both sides of the House who have gone to the effort of introducing Private Members' Bills to the House on a wide range of subjects? It is not easy to prepare such a Bill and regardless of whether they are accepted, I compliment all Members who have gone to the trouble of proposing such Bills in the House. I also compliment Senator Quinn on having the Construction Contracts Bill finally concluded yesterday.
Senator Mary Ann O'Brien clarified the source of her remarks on Monday. We have issued an invitation to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, to come in to debate that subject of the use and control of the Internet.
Senator O'Keeffe spoke of the Yeats Summer School debate on the role of the Seanad and its future. I wish the organisers of that event every success also. I am sure Senator O'Keeffe is there among the organisers. Anytime that Yeats is mentioned, Senator O'Keeffe's name is mentioned as well at this stage.
He will never be dead, that is for sure.
Senator Quinn asked about the hours of opening of polling stations for the referendum. I am not sure what the hours are but I am sure they will be notified well in advance of the referendum.
Senator Keane raised the Dublin forum, which I have mentioned. She also mentioned that there could be quite a number of referenda coming up but I suspect that Members of this House will be focusing on one referendum which will be coming up in October.
Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised the EPA report on water quality. That is an important issue. He also called for a debate on the development of the regions for which we will try to have the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, come in early in the new session.
Senator Moran, on the contribution of the religious orders, stated that it is still on the agenda. It is only right that it is on the agenda. On symphysiotomy, she raised the publication of the Walsh report. The report has taken a hell of a long time and I would hope that it will be published soon. It is something that Senator Moran has raised on a constant basis in the House and I would hope that the matter will be rectified soon.
Senator Daly spoke of recalling the House on organ transplantation and he had a similar motion last year. I wonder what has happened between last year and this year that the matter has not been raised within the 12 months.
I asked for a debate on it and we lost the vote, 27 to 17.
The Leader without interruption. Senator Daly should resume his seat.
For the information of the Leader, I asked for a debate on that particular statutory instrument last week and we lost the vote, 27 to 17.
It is absolutely extraordinary that the Senator would not have raised that matter in the past 12 months.
The Leader without interruption. Senator Daly should resume his seat.
When the Leader looks at the legislation, he will realise that one must wait two months for it to be debated by the Seanad.
It is extraordinary for the Senator over the past number of days to be calling the House back again in August.
If the Leader had accepted my amendment to the Order of Business last week, we could have debated it last week.
Senator Daly had 12 months.
Senator Daly should resume his seat.
As usual, it is a publicity stunt.
The Leader did not accept my amendment to the Order of Business last week to have it debated.
Senator Daly should resume his seat.
Senator Daly had 12 months to do it and he could not do it.
If he did that last week,-----
Senator Daly had a little too much sun over the past number of weeks.
-----we could have debated it last week.
Senator Daly should resume his seat.
Senator Mooney also raised the question of referendums, in particular, the Seanad referendum which we have debated at length. As the Cathaoirleach stated, the people will now decide on our future.
I wish the Cathaoirleach well and thank him for his stewardship during the term. It has been a difficult term for all, the Members, the Cathaoirleach and the staff of the House. I thank the staff, I thank the Clerk of the Seanad, Ms Deirdre Lane, Mr. Martin Groves and all the staff and, as the Cathaoirleach did, I wish the Clerk Assistant of the Seanad, Ms Jody Blake, a speedy recovery to good health. I also thank the ushers and all the staff of the House who have been so good to every one of us. They are a tremendous staff and we should thank each and every one of them. Finally, I wish all the Members from all sides of the House a happy holidays. I am sure that they will come back suitably refreshed and reinvigorated to raise matters on the Order of Business and elsewhere.
On a point of order, on the earlier issue, there are 650 persons waiting on the transplant list in Ireland and they want that legislation changed.
That is not a point of order. Senator Daly should resume his seat.
What did Senator Daly do in the past 12 months?
The Leader should look at the record of the House.
What did Senator Daly do in the past 12 months to raise it?
Senator Daly should resume his seat.
What did Senator Daly do?
There are 650 persons waiting on the transplant list and 1,800 on dialysis-----
What did Senator Daly do in the past 12 months to raise it?
Senator Daly should resume his seat.
-----and they want that legislation changed.
What did Senator Daly do?
Senator Daly should resume his seat.
Senator Norris has moved an amendment to the Order of Business, "That No. 18 be taken today". Is the amendment being pressed?
Yes. I am grateful for the moral support of Senator Colm Burke, whose Bill this was in the beginning.
Senator Norris has spoken already on this.
I pay tribute to Senator Colm Burke. I hope that Members will be able to vote with their conscience because this is an opportunity for us to do the work of the Seanad and send this back to the Dáil.
Amendment put:
The Seanad divided: Tá, 17; Níl, 28.
Tá
- Barrett, Sean D.
- Cullinane, David.
- Daly, Mark.
- Leyden, Terry.
- Mac Conghail, Fiach.
- Mooney, Paschal.
- Norris, David.
- Ó Clochartaigh, Trevor.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Brien, Mary Ann.
- Power, Averil.
- Quinn, Feargal.
- van Turnhout, Jillian.
- Walsh, Jim.
- White, Mary M.
- Wilson, Diarmuid.
- Zappone, Katherine.
Níl
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Brennan, Terry.
- Burke, Colm.
- Clune, Deirdre.
- Coghlan, Eamonn.
- Coghlan, Paul.
- Comiskey, Michael.
- Conway, Martin.
- Cummins, Maurice.
- D'Arcy, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Gilroy, John.
- Harte, Jimmy.
- Hayden, Aideen.
- Henry, Imelda.
- Higgins, Lorraine.
- Keane, Cáit.
- Kelly, John.
- Landy, Denis.
- Moran, Mary.
- Mulcahy, Tony.
- Mullins, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Noone, Catherine.
- O'Keeffe, Susan.
- O'Neill, Pat.
- Sheahan, Tom.
- Whelan, John.
Tellers: Tá, Senators David Norris and Diarmuid Wilson; Níl, Senators Paul Coghlan and Aideen Hayden.
Amendment declared lost.
Question put: "That the Order of Business be agreed to."
The Seanad divided: Tá, 34; Níl, 11.
Tá
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Brennan, Terry.
- Burke, Colm.
- Clune, Deirdre.
- Coghlan, Eamonn.
- Coghlan, Paul.
- Comiskey, Michael.
- Conway, Martin.
- Cullinane, David.
- Cummins, Maurice.
- D'Arcy, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Gilroy, John.
- Harte, Jimmy.
- Hayden, Aideen.
- Henry, Imelda.
- Higgins, Lorraine.
- Keane, Cáit.
- Kelly, John.
- Landy, Denis.
- Mac Conghail, Fiach.
- Moran, Mary.
- Mulcahy, Tony.
- Mullins, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Noone, Catherine.
- Ó Clochartaigh, Trevor.
- O'Brien, Mary Ann.
- O'Keeffe, Susan.
- O'Neill, Pat.
- Sheahan, Tom.
- van Turnhout, Jillian.
- Whelan, John.
- Zappone, Katherine.
Níl
- Barrett, Sean D.
- Leyden, Terry.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- Mooney, Paschal.
- Norris, David.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- Power, Averil.
- Quinn, Feargal.
- Walsh, Jim.
- White, Mary M.
- Wilson, Diarmuid.
Tellers: Tá, Senators Paul Coghlan and Aideen Hayden; Níl, Senators Paschal Mooney and Diarmuid Wilson.
Question declared carried.