Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

It is Christmas week and everyone is getting very bold.

Senator Dooley also took part in the march, and I say well done to him. Senator Norris said an individual should not be forced into taking a libel suit to get his rights and he quoted the retired judge and Professor Walsh. He also said we should continue to have serious debate on Iraq. Senator Mansergh said we are talking about ethics and not law and he raised the famous Starry O'Brien court case in Cork.

Senator Terry asked about the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill which is on Committee Stage in the Dáil. It is on the desks of those contributing to the debate.

Senator Feighan said he would like the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to come to the House. I welcome the note of sanity from that side of the House since there is not very many of them. The Senator is quite right — the Minister is responsible for security and whatever action he took, he did so in that vein.