Order of Business - 14th February 2008

Order of Business – 14th February 2008

Senator David Norris: I would like the
Cathaoirleach to notice how well behaved this
side of the House is compared to the other side.
We have submissively accepted the Cathaoirleach’s
ruling with great grace and not challenged
it. Perhaps that is because love is in the air on
this, St. Valentine’s Day. The last rose of summer
is blooming in Glasnevin.
Senator Donie Cassidy: And snowdrops and
daffodils.
An Cathaoirleach: We are on the Order of
Business.
Senator David Norris: I mentioned positive
news yesterday but I omitted to mention a significant
issue, which is the removal of that nasty,
right wing government in Australia and its
replacement by a government headed by Mr.
Rudd, who yesterday apologised to the aboriginal
people. That was a great and marvellous thing
to do.
Senators: Hear, hear.
Senator David Norris: I raised the question of
China yesterday and I noted the comments of
Senator Quinn. One hopes there will be open dialogue
and the Olympic Games, which in some
ways is a rather squalid event politically, will be
used to highlight the situation in China. Far from
what Senator O´ Murchu´ , with whom I rarely disagree,
said, the situation in China is getting steadily
worse. China has made an extraordinary jump
from a bogus communism to a rampant and
uncontrolled consumerist capitalism. I draw the
House’s attention to an issue in Tibet, which is
the case of the Panchen Lama who was kidnapped
at six years of age and who has not been
seen since and the bogus Panchen Lama installed
by the atheist Chinese government who is to be
made one of its officials. Let us keep raising this
issue.
On the question of autism, Deputy O’Rourke
is a remarkable and courageous woman in the
issues she raises. Importantly, one of the two professional
authors of the report on autism openly
disagreed with the Minister for Education and
Science’s interpretation of that report and that is
a matter to be discussed.