Order of Business - 21st October 2009

Order of Business - 21st October 2009
Senator David Norris: I am 65 years old and do not anticipate seeing pigs in flight, but I am grateful that I have lasted long enough to witness turkeys voting for Christmas. They have certainly done so. I second the amendment to the Order of Business tabled by my colleague, Senator O’Toole.
On the first day back after the election, I tabled the Government’s own proposals for reform. They were enthusiastically supported by Fine Gael and opposed by the Government. Fine Gael was in government for a number of years and could have reformed the Seanad easily with the enthusiastic support of the Independent Senators.

Senator Paddy Burke: That was a minority situation.

Senator David Norris: All Independent Senators produced legislation in recent years that puts this situation in perspective. 3 o’clock
This week, we have seen two squalid performances, the first by the leader of Fine Gael in the Dáil, Deputy Kenny. He unilaterally decided to sacrifice this House on the altar of his own public political ambition to expiate principally the sins of the other House. That was bad enough, but what of the dishonesty of the statements that went with it? He stated that he had announced this at the McGill Summer School, but he was publicly confronted with the record, which showed he had not announced it. The notion that we are going to solve the economic problems of this country by cutting back Seanad Éireann would be laughable were it not so serious to think that a man so financially illiterate might be placed in charge of the destiny of this country.

Senator Jerry Buttimer: Senator Norris should withdraw that remark.

Senator David Norris: I am very concerned about——

Senator Jerry Buttimer: He should withdraw that remark.

Senator David Norris: I will not withdraw it.

An Cathaoirleach: Senators, please.

Senator Maurice Cummins: It is not acceptable.

Senator David Norris: I will shout as much as I like.

Senator Jerry Buttimer: It was an insult. On a point of order——

(Interruptions).
Senator Maurice Cummins: On a point of order, that is not acceptable.

An Cathaoirleach: That is not a point of order.

Senator Liam Twomey: That is one reason for abolition.

Senator David Norris: I do not understand why my colleagues in the House are saying, “Hear, hear”, when they want to abolish it. In the name of Jesus, let them stop taking the money now and get the hell out of here.

An Cathaoirleach: Please, Senators.

Senator Jerry Buttimer: The remark was unacceptable.

An Cathaoirleach: It was a political charge.

Senator Maurice Cummins: At a recent meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, we discussed defamatory remarks. This type of remark should not be accepted by the Cathaoirleach. It is not a political charge.

Senator Dan Boyle: It was political. These things are said about us every day of the week.

Senator David Norris: It most certainly was a political charge and I will make a second one. This is not a game.

Senator Maurice Cummins: It was a personal attack on someone who is not in the House.

An Cathaoirleach: Please, I ask Senators to try to stay within the rules of the House.

Senator David Norris: I have done so.

Senator Jerry Buttimer: The Senator has not and he knows it.

Senator David Norris: I doubt that I will take lessons from Senator Buttimer on that particular angle. The second matter that I would like to——

An Cathaoirleach: Senator Norris’s time is just up.

Senator David Norris: ——mention is also a squalid performance. Senator Bacik is correct about the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O’Keeffe. In concert with the Senator I raised the question of discrimination against Protestant schools. I hated doing so because I do not like to see any such denominational issue, on which we both agree. The Minister of State was sent here to produce a tissue of fabrications.

An Cathaoirleach: Time, please, Senator.

Senator David Norris: Now, 40 years late, they have discovered it is unconstitutional. How incredible is that? Why was it not put before the House two weeks’ ago when we raised the matter? Thank God for decent, gallant people like Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin who has rode in to try to protect the reputation of the country and its education system when it is being sullied by the squalid dishonesty we have witnessed both here and in the other House.