Order of Business - 5th October 2005

The Order of Business - 5th October 2005

Mr. Norris: I am sure my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Garda on the seizure of cocaine at Dublin Airport, the arrest of two women and in particular the location of a crack cocaine factory in a flat in Phibsboro, which is apparently run by what was described as a west African gang. The gang has a specific new formula for creating this drug which makes it much more easily marketable. This is a very dangerous, debilitating and addictive drug which is behind much of the violence we currently see in the city. Arguments can be made on both sides regarding the legalisation of cannabis, for example, but crack cocaine is a quite different, dangerous drug. We should congratulate the Garda on its successful operation.
I was interested in the question raised by my colleague, Senator Ryan, about ethos, and ethical committees. I thought he was going to raise something which should be discussed in this House if it is appropriate, namely the situation whereby, perhaps as a result of the fact that the religious institutions were exempted from the equality laws, the Mater Hospital, by means of its ethical committee, inhibits women from taking part in drug trials for lung cancer treatment because of the requirement that they not become pregnant. The advice given by the drug companies that women should ensure they do not become pregnant lists artificial contraception as one of the prevention options, which conflicts with the ethos of the Catholic Church.
It is questionable that an institution which receives considerable public funds should stop treatment of this kind or such drug trials. A professor in St. Vincent's Hospital has described the decision as sectarian.
An Cathaoirleach: Time, Senator, please.
Mr. Norris: I am not the only computer-illiterate person in the general vicinity. We have seen the scandal of the computer system in the Department of Health and Children, but we previously had a debate on the enormous expenditure of money on electronic voting machines, a system which proved inadequate. One of the matters we teased out in this House at the time was that the people designing those machines on the continent of Europe, in Holland as I understand, had not been required to test them against a particular Irish model.
An Cathaoirleach: There are other Senators offering. This is not fair.
Mr. Norris: In this latest instance, I understand that an instruction was given that the programme was not to be tested against the idiosyncrasies of the Irish system. That is bizarre. What are those responsible doing? A huge waste of money is involved and I hope there will be a discussion on the matter.