David Norris (Independent)

I strongly support Senator Brian Hayes in what he said about the need for a debate on the situation in the European Parliament. I do not agree with him about the cleverness of Mr. Barroso. He has shown himself to be totally incompetent. There are issues about several other Commissioners. For example, Mr. Barroso nominated a Commissioner in the competition directorate who has serious conflict of interest problems. There is a real difficulty with this man.

Despite what has been said by various people, this is not an attack on Mr. Buttiglione because of his religion or his beliefs. This is a man who said that AIDS was a divine punishment on homosexuals. He voted against, lobbied against and attempted to prevent the introduction of equality legislation, particularly governing women and gay people. It is extraordinary that he has been put in charge of this area. They say turkeys do not vote for Christmas. This was like putting a fox in charge of the hen house and asking the chickens to join its re-election campaign. It is a complete farce and it has reduced the European Commission to a situation of contempt.

Perhaps the Leader will reply to a further question I would like to ask while I am at it. Why were Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael actively lobbying for Mr. Buttiglione if they knew of his record? Why was a former Member of the Seanad, Mr. Brian Crowley, MEP, for whom I have great respect and who has benefited from equality legislation which has been supported by people like me, lobbying for somebody who would make a person like me a second-class citizen of Europe to be given responsibility for the equality portfolio? It is not good enough. I recall that Mr. Buttiglione's friends in the Vatican issued an instruction to Roman Catholics to vote against such legislation. That is not tolerable. I would strongly welcome a debate on the matter.

I support Senator Brian Hayes's helpful suggestion that a standing committee be established. I have received considerable help in the area of domestic partnerships from leading persons on all sides of the House. It is something of an embarrassment to me that there were delays in the production of my legislation, which has just been completed. I had hoped to introduce it today, but I did not do so because of difficulties in rushing it to the printers. I was not keen to suggest changes in a sensitive area without having an opportunity to talk to my colleagues. This matter will affect the future welfare and happiness of many people. I do not think I would have shown respect to the House if I had tried to save face by rushing something in hurriedly. I would be happy to make my Bill available to such a committee.

I wish to conclude by raising a parallel issue of social justice. Members of the House will have been horrified to discover that some people who earned over €1 million in a single year paid no income tax. In that context, I support strongly the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, who said he will examine the possibility of removing moneys from special savings incentive accounts from means tests conducted on social welfare recipients. It seems to me to be obscene to allow people earning €1 million to pay no income tax, while those who have taken the Government's advice by investing in SSIAs are penalised.