David Norris (Independent)

It is foolish and it neuters the Seanad in many areas. It means we have to find mechanisms to circumvent it, as I have done once or twice. On one occasion I got as far as a couple of pages into a budget because Albert Reynolds accepted it. It is a mistake and diminishes the dignity of the House to impose a blanket ban, so that when we table sensible amendments they are disallowed. Even though we have been duly elected as Members of Parliament we cannot be trusted with anything to do with the purse strings.

I am glad the Minister has accepted moral suasion on the section in question. I understand he may not be in a position to do anything about it directly at the moment and the services referred to are not in his remit as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and a distinguished practising lawyer, I am sure he has a general feeling about the concept of justice. He indicated in a reply to me earlier this evening that he regards this provision as a bit strange. It is more than that — it is unfair and includes a series of anomalies.

The Minister graphically described the serious injuries firemen sustain and I am not sure the fireman to which he referred is entitled to any form of compensation, which is grossly wrong. If we expect such people to put their lives in danger and accept an ever-increasing risk of injury it is quite extraordinary, wrong and immoral that they should have no compensation.

I understand the Minister's difficulties but hope he will talk to his Cabinet colleagues to persuade them to take into account the rights of these personnel, particularly as he says that the very system I had suggested be used as a benchmark is itself inadequate, unsatisfactory and out of date, namely the Garda compensation system.