Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

When the Taoiseach was speaking at Dublin Castle last February, his comments on aggressive secularism gave rise to the following observation from journalist, John Waters, of which Edmund Burke would have been proud. I would be interested to hear the Taoiseach's views on this interpretation: "As we observe our society plunging into the secular paradise promised by the liberal ideologues who triumphed over the custodians of tradition, we observe also the manifestation of the many baneful symptoms of this shift." Waters referred to drug and alcohol abuse, etc., as part of these symptoms. Would the Taoiseach also include — I am sure this arose in his discussions — the aspect of one's word being one's bond, as in the case of the Adelaide Hospital? Did this arise in discussions with the Church of Ireland representatives, given that the charter that led to the move to Tallaght included a commitment that the Adelaide and National Children's Hosptial could remain where they are? Is there still an opportunity to honour this charter given that the Oireachtas was involved in the bond given? One was led to believe very clearly that the site of the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght would not be up for renegotiation. Did this arise in conversation and is it a subject of the ongoing dialogue with which the Taoiseach hopes to continue?

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