Order of Business - 24th March 2009

Order of Business - 24th March 2009
Senator David Norris: I welcome the presence of Mr. John Drennan in the Press Gallery on what I think is his third visit in a long, distinguished and somewhat acerbic career as a political analyst ——

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

An Cathaoirleach: It is not appropriate to the Order of Business to welcome anybody to the Press Gallery.

Senator David Norris: I hope his newspaper group will show a sustained interest in this House from now on.

An Cathaoirleach: Has the Senator a question appropriate to the Leader?

Senator David Norris: On the issue of the proposed strike, I am glad to be a member of three trade unions, IFUT, the NUJ and Equity and support the trade union movement. However, on each occasion I have voted against this strike. Senator O’Toole may well be correct that the trade unions are angry, but an angry response is not necessarily a rational one. I have heard of people cutting off their noses to spite their faces, but in this case they are cutting off their faces to spite their noses. The proposed strike is excessive action.
I also criticise employers because it is clear unions are being provoked by employers who are making use of the difficult financial situation to cut back and not pay legitimate wages. People are also provoked by the behaviour of people like Mr. Fingleton. I understood Irish Nationwide was a mutual society, but if that is the case, Mr. Fingleton’s idea of mutuality and mine are quite opposed. I understand the €28 million pot was described as a group insurance scheme. His definition of “group” is also unusual, because it appears to be confined entirely to himself. This is very provocative when so many people are losing jobs.
A number of property speculators who have driven this country into the mess we are in have indicated publicly they are not in a position to pay their debts or even the interest on their borrowings. Meanwhile, a 37 year old single mother of two was jailed last week for a month for non-payment of €5,800 to one of the financial institutions. Where is the equity in that? Is it any wonder people are angered? I share the anger of the trade unions, but I try to hold on to my rational intellect. The picture of Ireland this strike will project outside the country is disastrous.
On sport, does the Leader agree that the qualities displayed by the Irish rugby team in its extraordinary and historic victory were ones that could be taken on board by Government? I mean perseverance, fortitude, refusal to panic in awkward and difficult circumstances——
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames: Hear, hear.

Senator David Norris: —— and ability to keep the pressure on consistently according to plan until it achieved victory in a difficult situation. These are the kind of qualities the Government needs. Consider too how the team united the country. There was not much political verbiage. I saw the team coming back at the airport and saw Ulstermen there delighted to see the tricolour. Ulster voices intimated they were thrilled with the Dublin crowd. Such sports victories, and the rugby victory was not the only victory, does more to lift spirits than anything. Not only was there the rugby victory, there was also the victory of Bernard Dunne who behaved with equal decency and sportsmanship——

An Cathaoirleach: Has the Senator a question on the Order of Business?

Senator David Norris: Let us not forget either the victory of Katie Taylor, another world champion and a woman. That was a day of which we could all be very proud.

An Cathaoirleach: I recognise that.