Order of Business - 8th October 2009

Order of Business - 8th October 2009
Senator David Norris: I wanted to call for a debate on education in light of the unspent moneys at the Department of Education and Science and the wonderful news about Trinity College Dublin and UCD numbering among the world’s first 50 and 100 universities, respectively, but I cannot.
I am furious, given the way in which the House and its politicians are being treated. I would be happy to sign up to making everything transparent. I would like the people to know how often and for how long I am here. I would like them to know that the ushers ask me at 10 p.m. when I will be leaving Leinster House.
With fury, I listened to an item on RTE radio this morning. It was headlined “Corruption”, but it was about the expenses of Senators and Deputies. I feel sullied because we are all being tarred with the same brush. I damn anyone who impugns my integrity in the public arena by name, as he or she will wind up in the courts.

Senator Terry Leyden: Hear, hear.

Senator David Norris: A couple of months ago, I was telephoned by a tabloid newspaper and asked how I could justify travelling expenses of €6,000 or so. I told the newspaper that I could not. When I was asked whether I had anything else to say, I stated that I had never claimed a single penny because I walked every day, as I walked today. I have never claimed travelling expenses. It was a daily allowance, but it appeared in a newspaper article under the headline “Politicians with snouts in their trough” alongside my photograph. The one thing that the newspaper did not mention was that my expenses were the second lowest in the entire House.
Let us have a bit of responsible journalism and an historical review. I would like the people to know our attendance levels because we all attend well. I would like them to know my voting record, my attendance at committee meetings, my contributions, the legislation that I have tabled and the hours that I have worked. Let them have the whole damn lot, but I will not have my honour and integrity impugned. If newspapers go on like this, they will drive all the decent people out of politics, leaving only the dross. It will be what they bloody well deserve.

Senator Camillus Glynn: That is right.

Senator David Norris: I am angry. Before the war, I visited Baghdad in an attempt to secure the human rights of the unfortunate people of Iraq. We got 43p per day because we were slavishly following the British instruction, but the British wanted to keep people like myself out of Iraq.
What can we do? We must be open. I believed that the item on corruption was going to be about Berlusconi. I remember the scandals in the Roman Catholic Church. Although I was one of the most trenchant critics, I stood up every time and stated that, because there were decent people, we should not tar everyone with the same brush. Let us have the facts and examine the real situation. When I attended a meeting of the IPU in Australia, I was given a first class ticket but I traded it in and travelled third class, even to Beijing where, on my own initiative, I raised questions that led to a significant cultural exchange. I was telephoned about the trip beforehand and asked whether I would enjoy myself on the so-called junket. The tabloid wrote its article before the trip.
I had a stand-up row with Mr. Gareth Evans about the situation in what was then East Timor and raised the matter of AIDS. I had things forced through that were reported in the medical and British newspapers, but there was not a single bloody line in the Irish newspapers.

An Cathaoirleach: Point made.

Senator David Norris: When I asked about this, I was told that politicians on a junket was a story but that politicians working was not. Let us have a bit of responsibility and let the House be reported properly. I want the people to know what work I do.

An Cathaoirleach: Please, time.

Senator David Norris: They would get good bang for their buck.

Senator Paul Coghlan: Hear, hear.