Order of Business - 9th November 2006

Order of Business - 9th November 2006
Mr. Norris: I also support Senator Brian Hayes’s comments regarding the Mater Hospital’s attack on the former cancer patient. This issue raises a serious problem. A good article by Mary Rafferty in today’s edition of The Irish Times points out that previously, the same hospital had problems when its ethical committee, from a narrow sectarian point of view, prevented people from getting cancer treatment drugs. She investigated the members of the board, one of whom is a Sister of Mercy and is the person who was responsible for negotiating the disgraceful deal on compensation.
The Mater Hospital will be the location of the new children’s hospital. I raised this issue some time ago and Members must reconsider this matter. It is outrageous that individuals should be subjected to such pressure from a legally bullying and factually inaccurate letter from a firm of Dublin solicitors.
I was amused to hear Senator Brian Hayes again raise the subject of Seanad reform. It would be great if he was serious in this respect.
Mr. B. Hayes: I am.
Mr. Norris: I would love to see all Members support real Seanad reform, which would include their own rotten constituencies. It would be a great day for Ireland if——
Mr. B. Hayes: The Senator should read the report.
Mr. Coonan: Is the Senator suggesting Members are not serious?
Mr. Norris: ——Members were like turkeys and voted for Christmas. I would stand against any Member in any constituency they wished.
Dr. Mansergh: People in glasshouses should not throw stones.
Mr. B. Hayes: The Senator should read the report.
Mr. Norris: Members should be realistic about this and should not start detracting from the university Members, who are the only democratic element in the entire House.
Mr. Norris: At least I have a few voters. You lot have less than 1,000. Make it 20,000 or 100,000 and——
Ms O’Rourke: The Senator should not come down to Longford-Westmeath.
Mr. Norris: —— Members would learn a little about democracy.
An Cathaoirleach: Order, please.
Mr. U. Burke: It would be the first time the Senator faced competition in his own constituency.
Mr. Norris: There is plenty of competition. The Senator can stand. I dare Senator Ulick Burke to stand in the Trinity constituency.
Mr. U. Burke: I already have a constituency.
Mr. Norris: While he could easily stand, I would wipe the floor with him.
Ms O’Rourke: He is already standing elsewhere.
An Cathaoirleach: Order, please. Has the Senator another point on the Order of Business?
Mr. Norris: On the question of children’s rights, all Members are in favour. Senator O’Toole rightly referred to the fact that while many people seem to think the noble provisions within the 1916 Proclamation are included within the Constitution, this is not the case. However, it refers the rights of the individual. Why not consider holding a referendum that would guarantee and underwrite people’s inalienable rights as individual citizens, rather than the rights of sections, groups, families, children or whatever?
I agree with Senator Ó Murchú’s powerful and passionate indictment of what has been happening in the Middle East. It is morally revolting and shaming to see attacks that routinely kill women and children. Is Ireland serious about this? The Minister should call in the Israeli ambassador to indicate Ireland’s revulsion in this regard. If we were really serious, we should reconsider the external association agreement with Israel, attached to which are human rights protocols. I have been making this point for the past three years. Failure to ever act on such protocols diminishes the standing of human rights.
As for the question raised concerning the attack on O’Connell Street, it is appalling that a young woman should be dragged down a street, pushed into an apartment block and then allegedly assaulted. One of the problems is that people are afraid to intervene. I have intervened on numerous occasions and I had to receive three stitches in my lip after one intervention. I was attacked two years ago and received——
Mr. Dardis: They obviously failed to sew up the Senator.
(Interruptions).
Mr. Norris: I was also attacked on another occasion. It is not funny. I am amazed Members find it entertaining that people get attacked. If they do find it entertaining, they are part of the problem. If they do not understand how serious it is to trivialise these situations, they are on the side of the attackers. At least, I did get stuck in.
Mr. Dardis: Oh, come on.
Mr. Norris: The point I was making was that many young people in this city take drugs like crack cocaine. One of my assailants was taking crack cocaine. I was walking down the boardwalk along the River Liffey last week when I saw three young lads smoking something in a glass pipe, which was obviously crack cocaine. People are afraid because those who take these drugs become out of control.