Order of Business - 4th November 2008

The Order of Business - 4th November 2008
Senator David Norris: I support Senator Frances Fitzgerald's call for a debate on the cutbacks in the Combat Poverty Agency and others. I have been raising this for the past three weeks. It is clear no savings will be made with these cuts. It is just an attempt to muzzle the voice of the disadvantaged and a very cynical action, as is the Government's decision to reopen the question of extraordinary rendition at this stage. The Government claims it will discuss the matter with the incoming US Administration. It was not too keen on it when Bush was in saddle.
Senator Alex White: Hear, hear.
Senator David Norris: That is such a slavish and disgusting thing.
I want to tell my good friends in the Green Party not to be bought off with this little sop from the administration to allow them to close the door after the horses have bolted. A committee was established by this House to examine the issue which was then dissolved by the Government. Now, there is another one which contradicts what the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said to Deputy Michael D. Higgins and myself. It also contradicts what was said by the Garda at the time which I raised at a meeting on foot of complaint I made about extraordinary rendition. The Greens ought to be very careful that they themselves are not renditioned.
Will the Deputy Leader reassure the House of the progress of the Civil Partnership Bill in the light of the very strong comments by Cardinal Seán Brady? I found it a strange priority for the archdiocese of Armagh, when it only has seven seminarians and 130 priests for 200,000 people, to take on the disadvantaged in a manner which, sadly, can only further alienate young people from the church. To make a totem of marriage in the way that it has been done is nothing other than blasphemy. I refer to the gospels of Jesus Christ when he was reprimanded by the pharisees for breaking the Sabbath. He made the point that this was an institution made for man, not man for the institution.
An Cathaoirleach: The Senator has made his point.
Senator David Norris: The reports of his comments on RTE showed an arrogant, threatening and legalistic tone as the cardinal allied himself with Karl Rove, George Bush, Robert Mugabe and Ian Paisley.
An Cathaoirleach: The Senator has made his point.
Senator David Norris: I was one of the founders of the Southern Ireland Civil Rights Association which fought for the civil and human rights of Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland. It horrifies me that the leader of a church should seek to stamp his mark on such discrimination and inequality. I very much regret that I am forced to raise this issue. I thought we had put it behind us. I wanted us to get on to issues such as extraordinary rendition, human rights and the Dublin metro. Why are we dragged back into the 19th century in this shameful and disgraceful way? I am very happy if Cardinal Brady has strong feelings about it; he is perfectly entitled to them. I will meet him anywhere.
Senator Rónán Mullen: He will be in Leinster House tomorrow.
Senator David Norris: I will meet him in the National Stadium, the RDS or the National Concert Hall and debate this issue if he feels so strongly about it.