I will third it to make sure it gets over the line.

I am sure Members are aware that yesterday the Irish Congress of Trade Unions decided to oppose the imposition of additional water charges. We are trying to ram legislation through this House which started last night. I ask members to reflect on that. It is opposed by 600,000 members of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

I appreciate I am stepping on thin ice when I raise the next issue. The issue of Oireachtas pensions needs to be discussed openly and transparently. When former taoisigh are getting an increase in their pensions while lone parents are being driven into poverty there is something terribly wrong. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate because I am sick of hearing there is a constitutional entitlement and that we are talking about property rights. There were no property rights for public servants when their pay was cut. Perhaps it is time we have somebody in here to discuss property rights and pensions and why pensions are being increased when lone parents are being pushed into poverty.

Hear, hear.

I am glad Senator Craughwell has raised what is a very sensitive issue about pensions. I understand from reading the newspapers today, particularly the Irish Independent, which seems to be obsessed about pay and pensions in these Houses, that there is some talk of volunteerism. I understand the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, said at the weekend that there could be a legal challenge because of the Lansdowne Road agreement. It is interesting that there has been a deafening silence from the trade unions. We have not heard anything from them. It would be prudent, but it is a matter for the individuals concerned, and it would help to assuage the whipping up of public anger on this issue whenever it comes into the newspapers, if the recipients were to refuse voluntarily to take the increase, which are modest in terms of the overall figures. It would be in the best interest of the public and the county in general if they were to voluntarily refuse to take it.

In the context of the Irish Independent, I have spoken to my colleague, Senator Mary White, on this issue because from a male perspective one may not always get it right. I was somewhat disappointed at the photograph that appeared on the front page of the Irish Independent of two hard working Aer Lingus cabin crew shown putting on make-up in advance of the arrival of the Airbus into Dublin Airport. If ever there was a sexist photograph that is demeaning of women this was one of them. Cabin crews work exceptionally hard but to give the impression that they were nothing more than two dolly birds getting their make-on in advance of a plane arriving and being photographed in a national newspaper is unacceptable. I do not think that women, in general, should be shown in such a demeaning manner.

In regard to the Amnesty report and the poll that has appeared in the national newspapers relating to people's attitudes towards abortion, it is important to put on record that the pro-life campaign, in a statement which was not covered by many of the newspapers, revealed that Amnesty International's recent report on Ireland's abortion laws was compiled with the assistance of an international abortion lobby group, called Women on Web, and that not the slightest attempt was made to ensure balance in compiling the report. They failed to consult with women who regret their abortions or those who came under intense pressure from State funded agencies to abort their children with life limiting conditions.

The revelation that Amnesty collaborated with the group, Women on Web, in compiling its report completely undermines the credibility of what was produced. It also raises very serious questions about Amnesty's professional judgement for partnering with an organisation that facilitates the reckless and irresponsible importation of abortion drugs into countries such as Ireland, leading to situations where women end up self-administering the drugs without proper medical supervision. I agree with the conclusions of the pro-life campaign group that Amnesty is in fully-fledged campaigning mode on one side of the abortion issue. It is no longer the unprejudiced and even-handed organisation that won the public's trust and respect. I am a member of Amnesty and have been very reluctant to withdraw my membership because of what has happened.

Do not.

I will not do it because Amnesty, generally, has got a proud and long history of looking after people. When I and many others in this House, Senator Norris being one, have down through the years raised human rights issues it has been in the forefront when nobody else cared but on this issue it is totally and completely wrong and out of order.

I agree with my colleague, Senator Paschal Mooney, on the matter in regard to Amnesty. When it presented its report to the Joint Committee on Health and Children I decided not to comment on it because I felt that the research provided to the committee was not properly done. I have serious reservations about that report which was presented to the Joint Committee on Health and Children.

On the pensions issue, there is a simple solution to the matter, that is for the people who are entitled to the increase to decide not to take it. If Senator Gerard P. Craughwell wishes to write to each of the individuals I am sure nobody is preventing him from doing so. However, there is a legal issue in that the Government cannot pick out one group and decide not to follow through on a prior agreement. That is a legal issue that, unfortunately, cannot be dealt with. It is a constitutional issue and a difficult issue.

May I raise the issue of the drugs problem? I am aware the Minister is attending the Joint Committee on Health as we speak. We had a detailed presentation this morning from a group from Monaghan on the use of drugs by young people. We have a huge problem, no matter where it is, whether in a town, village or city. It is no longer confined to any one area of the country. We need to have a major debate on how to deal with it. The Minister is talking about bringing in new legislation but we all need to be involved, including parents, sports clubs, youth groups, the HSE, the Department of Health and schools. We need to work on how to deal with this growing problem.

The figures for 2012, the only figures available to me, show that some 632 people died as a result of drug use in that year. I expect the figures are even higher for 2013 and 2014. More than €109 million is being pumped into this area by the Health Service Executive, but we are making very little progress. We need a major debate on where we want to be and what our plan is for the next five to ten years to deal with this issue. As we know, people are able to order various illegal drugs online and have them posted to them. Children as young as 12, 13 and 14 years are accessing these substances. We have a major problem on our hands and must start dealing with it properly.