Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I welcome the review of the Freedom of Information Act by the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service and I note that it will report in due course to both Houses. Will the Leader arrange for a debate on the report when it is completed? Will she use her good offices and considerable authority to ensure the Government listens to the recommendations of the committee?

When I heard on the radio this morning that the Garda is investigating backstreet abortions involving foreign women in Ireland I, like many others, was appalled. Refugees and asylum seekers existing on €19 per week and illegal workers who clearly feel they cannot leave the country now form part of what can only be described as a hidden Ireland. They lack social protection to such an extent that they feel it necessary to have illegal, backstreet abortions and to put their health at risk. We cannot ignore that and we should look at this as legislators. At the minimum it is ironic that having passed a referendum based on the so-called propensity of asylum seekers and women from third countries to have babies in Ireland, one of the first stories to emerge after that referendum is the horrific reality of backstreet abortions taking place here. That is appalling.

I ask the Leader to make time in the autumn for a debate on dyslexia. We had a very good rolling debate on autism, which was very useful, and I have been asked by several people about a debate on dyslexia. I will discuss this with the Leader later.