Order of Business - 28th March 2006

Order of Business – 28th March 2006

Mr. Norris: I thank Senator Brian Hayes for raising No. 23 on the Order Paper

regarding the child abuse victim from Cork. I am pleased that both Fine Gael

and Labour Party Members signed the motion but, on the basis of my contacts

with Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats Members, everybody feels the

same way, whether they are at liberty immediately to put their names to the

motion. The woman was a victim and she took an important case very

courageously. She illustrated a principle in law, which will be helpful.

Normally one does not go after people in those circumstances and mulct them in damages or legal costs. This woman has two small children. We hear a great deal about cherishing all the children of the nation equally and it would be awful if a decent woman found her home was sold over her head. I hope the Leader will have something positive to contribute in this regard.
I welcome the fact the European Commission appears to be about to act on roaming phone charges. It is iniquitous that people who answer calls when they are abroad are charged. This is wrong and I hope the Government will follow up on it.
I agree with Senators Brian Hayes and Tuffy that the shooting on the M50 is an appalling business. It is apparent these people were expecting it because they were wearing bullet-proof vests. The driver had just been released from hospital after a previous shooting. The situation is getting like that in Chicago in the 1920s. I remember as a child going to see films such as "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" and the "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre" and because they were in black and white and the bloodshed was all cosmetic, we found them great entertainment. Now, Chicago would be a safer place than Dublin. The kind of activity seen in those films has taken root here. I would support whatever measures are necessary to curtail this horrendous activity.
I mentioned the idea of cherishing all children of the nation equally. A phone call came to my office a few days ago from an elderly lady who would not give her name or telephone number because her husband would be upset and ashamed if he knew attention was brought to the matter. This woman wanted the Oireachtas to be aware that people like her and husband who live on very low incomes - all she had was the non-contributory pension - are very glad that the cold weather spell seems to be over because they had such difficulty in keeping themselves warm. We need to realise that elderly people who live on minimal State support are in difficulty. We used to have a fuel supplement or subsidy and I wonder if it still exists.

Senators: It is still there.

Mr. Norris: That information should be made known as widely as possible. Sometimes people are ashamed to take up such subsidies because they think they are getting something for nothing. They are not. We should encourage all elderly people with this difficulty to take what is their due in terms of allowances and fuel vouchers.

Ms. O’Rourke: He also raised the matter of Louise O'Keeffe from Cork. I will reply to this question when responding to Senator Norris because he and the Independent Senators tabled the motion. Senator Brian Hayes, however, is right to associate himself with this motion.

Senator Norris mentioned Louise O'Keeffe from Cork. Ms O'Keeffe has contacted me several times, as no doubt she has contacted other Senators. When I called the Taoiseach's office his adviser told me that Ms O'Keeffe wanted to persuade the Minister for Education and Science, and the State Claims Agency to waive their rights to collect these costs. I understand that neither the Department nor the State Claims Agency will move to collect their costs to date.

Mr. Norris: Good.

Ms O'Rourke: That is helpful but I was told to say clearly that this refers to the costs to date.
Senator Norris also spoke about roaming telephone charges, and compared the M50 shoot-out to events in Chicago in the 1920s. He said that the cold spell which lasted longer than normal affected elderly people. This could return. Somebody else also said we should have an enhanced fuel allowance.