Order of Business - 31st October 2007

Order of Business - 31st October 2007
Senator David Norris: I seek guidance from the Chair - I am afraid I am rather confused. Where am I? Am I on a little island called Ireland or am I, as I increasingly suspect, on the flying island of Laputa, described by the late Dean Jonathan Swift in Gulliver's Travels? I ask partly because of the matter raised by Senator Fitzgerald. The Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2007, which will be considered by this House later today, seemed innocuous - we thought it would not do any great harm. However, a measure has been slipped into the Bill, with wonderfully sly sleight of political hand, to assist one of our own. I accept that the former Minister, Deputy Woods, is so distressed by poverty that he overlooked the fact that he had not claimed his pension for two years - one can quite understand that, just as one can understand the eagerness of the Irish taxpayer to reward the person who saved the Roman Catholic Church hundreds of millions of euro, at the expense of taxpayers. It is inevitable that this country's grateful taxpayers are keen to contribute to the former Minister. I have in my possession a letter that was sent to me by a constituent - a humble worker in a dental practice - who has been disbarred for receiving social welfare provisions, such as a pension, because she is employed by her husband. I wonder how she feels this morning.

An Cathaoirleach: That Bill-----

Senator David Norris: When I heard this morning that the Health Service Executive is in a state of distraction and paralysis over the significant question of how many electricians it takes to change a light bulb, I wondered again whether this is the flying island of Laputa or just a bad joke. I understand that a garda will be made privy to these special provisions. We know that gardaí are unusual people because we have discovered that a garda who ran over somebody at 4.30 a.m., having consumed, on his own admission, three pints of stout and at least two bottles, was then taken 14.5 miles by his colleagues to be breathalysed by them and found not to be over the limit. Gardaí need extra pensions because they are very unusual people.

An Cathaoirleach: This is the Order of Business. Are you seeking a debate-----

Senator David Norris: Yes.

An Cathaoirleach: -----or making a speech on the matter?

Senator David Norris: I would not dream of making a speech.

An Cathaoirleach: You could have fooled me.

Senator David Norris: Can the Chair tell me where I am? Is this Laputa or is it Ireland?
Assuming from the Cathaoirleach's expression that it is Ireland, may I raise one other matter? I understand from radio reports that the Labour Party intends to introduce a civil unions Bill in the other House later today. I salute the Labour Party for doing so. I listened to the debate on the radio and I hope we have a better debate in the Oireachtas. I will re-introduce my Bill. I was disgusted to hear one of the contributors to the radio debate, Mr. Quinn, refer to the protection of marriage when saying that historically, certain provisions had been in place to protect the wives and husbands of people who died. That is a downright lie.

An Cathaoirleach: Sorry-----

Senator David Norris: My mother was in this situation after my father died when I was six years of age. My mother got no pension because it was my father who died. If my mother had died, my father would have got a pension. I want the lie that was put out on the air - that the law was introduced to protect spouses - to be withdrawn.

It was put out on the air that this is to protect the spouses but it is no such thing; it is sheer prejudice. I really resent what was said and I must put this on the record of the House-----

An Cathaoirleach: I do not want the Senator to name anyone who is not here to defend him or her self.

Senator David Norris: I will table this matter as an amendment to the Order of Business. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Civil Partnership Bill 2004 be taken.
In support of my argument, I remind the House that I am a member of a family which was here when St. Patrick arrived on the island. I am pretty Irish and I do not need to be lectured about Irishness by anybody as to what is and is not Irish. I am not going to be defined as having second-class citizenship by any person, Member of this House, the other House or the Irish public or told that my relationships, if they are dignified by law, are going to be put by the likes of Deputy Martin Mansergh and Senators in this House at the level of a dog licence. If to teach people that I will not accept this and that I will get full citizenship eventually-----

An Cathaoirleach: Senator Norris-----

Senator David Norris: -----I will take another trip to Europe if that is necessary. I am signalling to the House that this is what I will do.

An Cathaoirleach: Does the Senator want No. 9 on the Order Paper to be taken ahead of No. 1?

Senator David Norris: Yes.