Order of Business - 28th November 2007

Order of Business - 28th November 2007
I listened from the Dáil Gallery to the speech of Mary Harney last night and it was a remarkable performance. I do not use the word "performance" in a scathing manner and I do not wish to suggest there was anything theatrical about it. It was a speech of passionate conviction and I respect this. I have ideological differences with her and I have made them plain in this House. What horrified me was her statement that she was made aware of the ultrasound problem in Portlaoise only on Wednesday at a meeting with other people, spent 24 hours trying to get a satisfactory answer from the HSE and failed to do so.
It is astounding that the Minister for Health and Children cannot extract information from the bureaucracy. It confirms everything stated, not in a partisan way or on this side of the House, but by Members on the other side of the House and by Ministers. This worries me because clearly a real problem exists with regard to information flow.
This is not confined, however, to the Department of Health and Children. As I left the Chamber I encountered a Cabinet leak. As a result of this I was able to inform our distinguished Leader that a decision had been made to embark on Seanad reform, which will scrutinise the university seats in particular.

It was a very interesting proposal and I welcome it but it is time we examined the rest of the seats. We should put an end to their method of election, although I am not casting aspersions on the people who managed to arrive here by a plainly corrupt system. If we are looking for rotten boroughs, they are all around this House but they are not in the six universities.
An Cathaoirleach: That issue can be debated tonight.
Senator David Norris: I was confirmed in my opinion by what I saw on Monday night of avariciousness and lack of integrity among councillors. I am amazed at the lickspittling of local authorities that continues because they are Senators' constituencies.
An Cathaoirleach: A debate will be held later this evening on the issue of Seanad reform. We do not want that debate now. The Senator is very experienced but he should refer to Ministers as "Minister" or "Deputy" rather than by name.
Senator David Norris: I accept the Cathaoirleach's direction. I acted with no disrespect and, in that regard, am astonished he did not rebuke a previous speaker who did precisely the same and who also referred to doctors by name. I should not have to remind the House of the tradition that people are not named when they are not here to defend themselves.
When reforms are introduced, we will want to ensure we do not create a completely unworkable constituency.
An Cathaoirleach: On the Order of Business.
Senator David Norris: It will comprise at least 250,000 electors and could be as many as 500,000. That would suit me and I will take on any little political squirt that the parties produce.
(Interruptions).
Senator David Norris: I have made up my mind. I certainly will run in the next election.
An Cathaoirleach: I do not want Senator Norris to give a lecture to anyone here. As an experienced Senator, I ask him to respect the Chair and his rulings.
Senator David Norris: I very much respect the Chair and I have made that clear.
I tried to raise on the Adjournment the case of a woman from Nigeria, whose name is made privy in the documents I supplied. In 2004 this woman arrived in the country at the age of 15 and she is now 19. She is being deported, even though she is half-way through a degree course and has her leaving certificate. She is unsupported and has no family, having been separated by the situation she experienced, yet we are throwing her back to Nigeria.
I tried to put a motion on the Order Paper requesting the Government to hold a referendum on removing the word "Christian" from the Constitution because of our signal failure to act in a Christian manner towards these people but I could not get a single person to sign my motion. It is utter hypocrisy. We bleat about the undocumented Irish in America but we are sending a girl back to a country where we know she will end up on the streets.
An Cathaoirleach: That is a matter for the Adjournment.
Senator David Norris: I ask in this case and in the case of the autistic boy who was sent back to Nigeria that the Irish embassy in Lagos be required to follow through and find out what happened to these people. It is not good enough that we throw them out of this country and land them on the streets. We may turn them to lives of prostitution but we do not give a damn once they have left this island.
An Cathaoirleach: The Senator made his point well.