Order of Business - 20th November 2007

Order of Business - 20th November 2007
Senator David Norris: I am sure the Members
would like to recognise the presence of the
former Independent Senator and professor
emeritus, John A. Murphy, who graced these
benches until recently. I support Senators
O’Toole and O´ Murchu´ on the appalling situation
in Iran. The woman was sentenced to a considerable
number of lashes, which is a savage punishment,
but this was doubled or trebled because she
had the temerity to appeal. I raised these issues
at the recent assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union in Nairobi and I am glad to say I was supported
by Senator Leyden on the matter of a
mentally handicapped 16 year old girl in Iran who
was executed for the crime of being raped by her
neighbours. Two young men in their late teens
were involved in a relationship and were battered
for many weeks and, after six months’ detention,
were hanged from the back of a lorry. This is
revolting behaviour and we should protest against
it. I am glad Senator O’Toole mentioned frontliners
and yesterday I launched the appeal for
support for these brave people who, in such difficult
circumstances, stand up on behalf of their
communities.
I am glad Senator Fitzgerald raised the appropriate
questions on children’s rights and the children’s
referendum. I have a message from a victim
of institutional sexual abuse that refers to the
apology to such victims given by the Taoiseach,
Deputy Bertie Ahern, some years ago on behalf
of the State. I am told the Ryan commission is
only taking evidence from a handful of victims
and has only managed to investigate a fraction of
the thousands of allegations of abuse. Many victims
feel they have once more been failed by the
State, especially as some children were put in care
at tender ages and left with a criminal record.
There is legislation before the House that will
help expunge certain criminal records and surely
these people should have their records expunged.
Not only were these victims violated and abused,
they were left with a criminal record. I ask that
we examine this situation.
Road safety was discussed recently in this
House and the issue has arisen several times since
Parliament reconvened, yet today we discover
that Cork County Council is to go to court to
prevent the Health and Safety Authority
inspecting roadworks. The Donegal county manager
intervened in a similar fashion because he
found that his workers were upset. This comes in
the context of the case of Tommy Gallagher,
raised by myself and others, who lost his daughter
Aisling because of completely inappropriate road
treatment. That young girl was driving carefully
and met her end because of a lack of care shown.
The matter in Trim also relates to road safety.
I am tired of raising these issues in debates as
I am tired of raising consistency in speed limits
and road humps. Last week I crossed a road
hump at 20 km/h and damaged both shock absorbers,
which will cost me \1,000. How can we
expect people to show respect when such incidents
occur and when county managers refuse to
let the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, make
inspections?