Leader’s responses to Senators
The Leader rejects the Attorney General amendment, defends the inquiry’s terms and mental-health funding, and responds positively to Senators’ remarks on the state visit and reconciliation.
Senator Darragh O'Brien has, once again, proposed an amendment to the Order of Business to bring the Attorney General to the House. I repeat that a commission of investigation has been formed and its terms of reference have been agreed to at this stage. Mr. Justice Fennelly has been directed to report to the Government not later than 31 December. I do not propose, therefore, to accept the Senator's amendment to the Order of Business.
The Senator also spoke about mental health services. He previously proposed that the matter be referred to the Seanad Public Consultation Committee and it was agreed to do so, but that proposal was withdrawn.
Comment on this
I do not know whether the Senator wants to go back to that proposal.
Comment on this
I want the Minister of State to do her job.
Comment on this
The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has been in the House on many occasions to deal with mental health services. She is addressing the issue in the best way she possibly can. The funding is in place. One does not change systems such as this overnight. That does not happen. The Minister of State is doing the very best she possibly can in difficult circumstances. If the Senator wants any of the specific items to which he referred to be dealt with, I suggest he table an Adjournment matter.
Senator Ivana Bacik and many other Senators welcomed President Higgins's state visit to the United Kingdom. It was wonderful to see the Tricolour and the Union Jack flying side by side in Windsor and on many streets in London. Many years ago people dreamed that this would happen. Perhaps we should dream that we might see something similar happen in the years ahead - I hope not too many years away - the Tricolour and the Union Jack flying on the Shankill Road and in west Belfast. That is unthinkable now, but what we are seeing today was unthinkable many years ago. Let us hope and dream that this will come true in the years ahead.
Comment on this
Senator David Norris complimented Her Majesty the Queen on her part in ensuring this day would happen. She is certainly to be praised, as are all of the other actors in this regard, including former Presidents of this country.
Senators David Norris and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh spoke about the terms of reference for the commission of investigation, which I consider to be comprehensive and wide-ranging, a point also noted by Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
I note the call made by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties for more items to be included, but this will be a very comprehensive report and the terms of reference are very significant. They include many items that Members last week suggested should be included but which they thought would not be. However, they are included. We have an excellent judge in Mr. Nial Fennelly and hope he can have the report by 31 December.
Senators Mary Moran and-----