Order of Business - 22nd November 2006

Order of Business - 22nd November 2006
Mr. Norris: I ask for a debate on the Corrib gas field and the Shell to Sea campaign. On more than one occasion, I praised the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, for his sterling qualities of decency and political courage. However, he did not show them last week in the Dáil. As parliamentarians, we are entitled to an explanation of the Government by smear which seemed to occur. It is extraordinary that he stated an unnamed acquaintance overheard a conversation on a mobile telephone on Grafton Street which included words such as “Rossport” and “riot”. God bless his hearing. He is obviously not an army deafness claimant. It is an outrageous and disgraceful performance by the Minister.
Also, we are told the provos are up to their ears in it. So what? I remember the provos used to lick the altar rails of churches throughout the country. Did that mean no one else was allowed to believe in God? Is it guilt by association? The police force is enlisted on behalf of a widely discredited multi-national corporation. We remember the inheritance it left to Nigeria. It is speedily doing the same in the west of Ireland. It successfully divided a country and families in its exploitation of our national resources which we gave away for nothing. We do not even charge it tax.
An Cathaoirleach: I am sure we will have a debate. The Senator elaborated the argument for a debate very well.
Mr. Norris: The Cathaoirleach is kind. Part of any debate should examine the guardianship of resources by a Government which landed us in a series of lousy contracts. Not only did it hand away our resources to Shell Oil for some inexplicable reason, but we also have the M50, the link bridge which will be bought back for hundreds of millions of euro and PPARS. Something is rotten and it ought to be examined.
An Cathaoirleach: Many Senators are offering and I would like Senator Norris to be brief.
Mr. Norris: In that case, I support Senator O’Toole’s point on Irish. It is ridiculous and I am prepared to be far more blunt that he is. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, is single-minded. His old grandfather made Irish hated through this land by its compulsory nature and the Minister now hammers the last nail in the coffin. If someone in distress telephones a rape crisis centre, is it not heartless to present them with this garbage in Irish?
Dr. Mansergh: Oh come on.
Mr. Norris: Ordinary sensible people in this country will be revolted by this.
I ask for a debate on charities, particularly in the light of an all-party recommendation to the Minister for Finance, which will be discussed by the Fianna Fáil Party, to introduce legislation to re-direct credit card duty away from the Exchequer to charities. It would be a good and efficient way to support charities. It might mean we would not have so much of what is termed “chugging” or charity mugging on the streets of Dublin.