Order of Business - 22nd October 2008

Order of Business - 22nd October 2008
Senator David Norris: I agree with every single word uttered by Senator Mary White. I was
present at the church. It was an astonishing spectacle. I have never experienced anything like
it. It was the risen people.
It is extraordinary that Fianna Fa´ il, which was always the party par excellence in terms of
being in touch with the grass roots, seems to have lost its antenna. It did not listen to the
people on this issue and now the people will not listen to it. When the Minister of State, Deputy
John Moloney, went to the microphone a palpable wave of anger travelled down the body of
the church and walloped off him, as it were. His face went parchment white. The microphone
was taken from him and he was told, “Shame on you; shame on you.” It was an extraordinary
spectacle and very dangerous.
As we head into an economic storm, the one thing we need is a sure hand on the tiller and
firm Government that has moral authority and the support of all the people, including the
different parties. By political cack-handedness, regrettably, the Government has lost it. Its
targets were wrong. It is not that the Government does not have an ideology. It is that too much
ideology has leaked in from the Progressive Democrats. Competition is all we heard about.
We hear, for example, Members on the Government side of the House raise the issue of
universality. They are against it but are for it when their Government puts a 1% tax on everyone,
which is the most shameful measure I have ever come across in my life. I will say what
they are doing because I have tried to say it and I was stopped.
An Cathaoirleach: Questions to the Leader, please.
Senator David Norris: When will the Minister come to the House to address with Members
matters such as the scrapping of the Combat Poverty Agency when poverty is being created
all around us? The Government has halved the budget for the Equality Tribunal and is proceeding
with its decentralisation to Portarlington. This is all in advance of a report it has commissioned
about efficiency and value for money. Before it gets the report, it will implement its
decisions regarding the Competition Authority, the Equality Authority, the Combat Poverty
Agency and the Data Protection Commissioner.
What has the Government not hit? We have heard from Senator O’Toole that prosecutions
of criminals may not be able to proceed efficiently. What is the Government doing to the
Competition Authority that stuck its nose into certain negotiations? When that authority was
set up, the Government did not even provide for competition for its own executives until the
Seanad inserted that for it.
An Cathaoirleach: The point is made.
Senator David Norris: The authority failed in its duty because it neglected a deadline by
which it could deal properly with a major multinational but it was able to crucify the members
of Irish Equity on the sum of \7,500 when it would not allow the organisation to engage in
collective bargaining. It was deemed a cartel——
An Cathaoirleach: The Senator has made his point.
Senator David Norris: ——and that is a disgrace. On universality, we on this side of the
House were asked whether we had ever seen millionaires in accident and emergency departments,
etc. I can tell this House honestly that I have seen the equivalent, as have we all. I have
seen very wealthy people taking every handout, grant and free gift from the taxpayer and using
them as pocket money.
An Cathaoirleach: The point is made.
Senator David Norris: That is why I am in favour of means tests, but if the Government has
means tests to exclude the rich, it must have proper and decent ones to save the poor who are
being betrayed by the Government.