Order of Business - 22nd November 2005

Order of Business – 22nd November 2005

Mr. Norris: We in this House and you, a
Chathaoirligh, have often spoken about the need
to maintain the dignity of the House. May I commend
the Leader who yesterday represented this
establishment with extraordinary courage, patience
and tolerance when she came under an
onslaught from callers, some of whom were all
right but some of whom were ignorant in the
extreme in the personal grudge they had against
the race of politicians. The Leader did a good
day’s work on behalf of all of us for which I
thank her.
I was rather entertained earlier as I did not
realise there were non-existent schools. Perhaps
that is where I should send my non-existent children.
I also noted there was not a single Protestant
school among them. They are all single-sex
schools and all, with one exception, I think, are
run by members of religious orders. That is
interesting in light of the kind of negative debate
we have been having and in which I participated.
It indicates the contribution that some of these
people have made.
I ask for a debate on Tibet, if possible before
Christmas. I attended a meeting in Edinburgh
with the Dalai Lama and we drafted an Edinburgh
declaration. It is rather long but I will try
to digest it and put some of the points in a
motion. This man has been abandoned. He is one
person who stood for peace when everybody else
around the globe was trying to achieve their
objectives by violence. We should recognise that
and help his people in their desperation.
We all received an interesting document from
the Dublin City Business Association. The document
refers to the drinks industry, its powerful
lobbying, the destructive character it has taken
on, the volume of sales, the targeting of vulnerable
groups and associated crime. It also highlights
the virtual disempowerment of local residential
communities and local authorities to
successfully object to the granting and renewal of
alcohol licences within their area.
The document comes from a significant group
whose members are not hysterics. These are
people committed to the business life of our capital
city. They have produced a three-page document
indicating the damage that is being done by
alcohol abuse and I would like this serious communication
discussed in Seanad E´ ireann.