Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

Last night we had a constructive debate on an important issue. Senator Norris spent two years preparing a Bill, with 30 years experience going into that preparation, but was given a very short time to present his case. It would have been to all our benefit if he had been able to speak for longer, to use statistics and quotations and to tell us what it is like to experience discrimination. It would have benefited the debate. The Leader of the House negotiated some extra time but the debate was still brief. When we are tackling issues with constitutional implications and implications for the family, we should perhaps have longer to discuss them. We can rush issues. I do not want to go back to the day when Senators spoke for hours on end but under the current rules Edmond Burke would never have seen the light of day.

I wish to raise the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights Sub-committee on the Barron Report. I am shocked that the authorities in Northern Ireland and in Britain would not co-operate in any way with the sub-committee. I can only imagine why they would not do so.