David Norris (Independent)

She and I were both members of the teaching profession and she, particularly in terms of her courtesy, has added greatly to the pleasures of participating in the House. I am not surprised she referred to that because if anybody in this House exemplifies courtesy and good humour, it is the Leader. We are very lucky to have her.

I want to briefly mention an issue I raised yesterday and on previous occasions which we may consider in the next term, that is, the question of licences, planning, etc. and the disgraceful behaviour of the District Courts. I had a cup of coffee with my colleague, Senator Ross, yesterday and he reminded me of something I was horrified to learn. Do Members know that judges do not have to make a declaration of interest? It is about time they did because judges should not be above the law. They should be required to make a full declaration of any interests they have before they sit in judgment of other people. I hope we will have an opportunity to discuss that.

Another serious matter raised by Members is the document that was mislaid. The contents of that document confirm things most of us already knew. It is time it was firmly stated that Sinn Féin-IRA clearly has a gun to the Government's head. Members of Sinn Féin-IRA should be told to leave their weapons at the door, as their predecessors left theirs at the doors of this building many years ago.

I was surprised to hear Senator Brian Hayes establishing his credentials as an amateur theologian and even more surprised to learn that he did not realise that the Reverend Ian Paisley endorses the virgin birth. Of course he does, he is a fundamentalist. It would not surprise me if the Rev. Ian Paisley thought he arrived on this planet by the same mechanism.