Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome last night's publication of the heads of the protection of life during pregnancy Bill. I am really glad this Government is finally, 21 years after the "X" case, facing up to the responsibility we all have as legislators to introduce legislation which will provide for clarity in our law for pregnant women, their doctors and families as to when doctors may intervene to save women's lives by terminating pregnancies in the very rare cases when that arises. I entirely agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien that we should have ample time to debate it in this House when it comes before us on Second, Committee and Report Stages. I know the Leader will facilitate that request.

Senator Darragh O'Brien is correct that the health committee is the appropriate place to have the debate on the heads of the Bill. I understand the health committee is meeting tomorrow morning at 9.30 a.m. to commence that debate. We will see a very full debate. I entirely agree that it should be respectful and courteous but we also need to see this legislation go through the normal stages in the Dáil and Seanad and be brought into law without any further unnecessary delays. So while we need a full debate, I very much hope we will see it come into law before the summer recess. That is very important for the women of Ireland and I am really glad we are finally legislating on this important issue.

I welcome yesterday's announcement, while the Order of Business was in session - and other colleagues mentioned it - by Glanbia of the creation of 1,600 jobs in the south east. That is a really important announcement. This morning we see again an announcement of the creation of 100 high-level jobs in Squarespace which will set up headquarters in Dublin. This is a company in the ICT sector where we have seen 11,000 additional jobs in the last two years. The Government has rightly targeted this sector for growth and we are seeing real momentum here in job creation, so that is really important.

My final matter is a little further away from here, but again of concern. Colleagues will have seen recent reports about the hunger strike in the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay. It is very welcome to see President Obama renewing calls for the closure of Guantanamo Bay. Many of us were very disappointed that the centre was not closed during President Obama's first term of office. It is a blatant breach of the rights to due process of suspects - and indeed they are no more than suspects - held there in detention. Many of them have been held for many years and are protesting at their conditions and continued detention. We should raise concerns about it in this House because it is a matter of great international concern.