David Norris (Independent)

Will the Leader ascertain from the Government when the new civil registration Bill will be presented to the House? Like other Members, I receive the newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Ireland. The headline on the editorial in this month's edition is "Where is the new Civil Registration Bill". The editorial continues, "On the tenth anniversary of the birth of the Roscommon experiment there is still no registration". I understand this matter comes under the auspices of the Department of Health and Children and concerns the question of the registration of births, marriages and deaths. There is concern that unless the Bill is produced matters will be left in a quagmire, and that if it is produced in the shape anticipated, much less information will be accessible to the public. I would welcome information on the matter.

Could we have a debate on the media which is necessary because we see many calls in the newspapers for reform of the libel laws, all in the interest of newspaper magnates? Today a woman married to a former Cabinet Minister, Mrs. McDaid, was savaged by two women journalists on foot of an article which appeared in a disgusting Irish tabloid owned by English interests. The two women journalists who attacked Mrs. McDaid admitted subsequently that they had not even read the book in question. This is quite extraordinary. If we are to do anything with the libel laws, we must establish a strong press council. I look forward to the debate, to which I would like to contribute. I have no fear of newspapers, their editors or their sometimes lamentable correspondents, especially as I am a member of the National Union of Journalists. I respect many of my colleagues, but there are those whom I do not respect at all. There are newspapers I do not respect either.

I always think it is very rude to ask a question and then leave the House, but I have to attend the Committee on Foreign Affairs. I apologise and do not intend any discourtesy to the House.