David Norris (Independent)

We in this House and you, a Chathaoirligh, have often spoken about the need to maintain the dignity of the House. I commend the Leader who yesterday represented this establishment with extraordinary courage, patience and tolerance when she came under an onslaught from callers, some of whom were all right but some of whom were ignorant in the extreme in the personal grudge they had against the race of politicians. The Leader did a good day's work on behalf of all of us for which I thank her.

I was rather entertained earlier as I did not realise there were non-existent schools. Perhaps that is where I should send my non-existent children. I also noted there was not a single Protestant school among them. They are all single-sex schools and all, with one exception, I think, are run by members of religious orders. That is interesting in light of the kind of negative debate we have been having and in which I participated. It indicates the contribution that some of these people have made.

I ask for a debate on Tibet, if possible before Christmas. I attended a meeting in Edinburgh with the Dalai Lama and we drafted an Edinburgh declaration. It is rather long but I will try to digest it and put some of the points in a motion. This man has been abandoned. He is one person who stood for peace when everybody else around the globe was trying to achieve their objectives by violence. We should recognise that and help his people in their desperation.

We all received an interesting document from the Dublin City Business Association. The document refers to the drinks industry, its powerful lobbying, the destructive character it has taken on, the volume of sales, the targeting of vulnerable groups and associated crime. It also highlights the virtual disempowerment of local residential communities and local authorities to successfully object to the granting and renewal of alcohol licences within their area.

The document comes from a significant group whose members are not hysterics. These are people committed to the business life of our capital city. They have produced a three-page document indicating the damage that is being done by alcohol abuse and I would like this serious communication discussed in Seanad Éireann.