David Norris (Independent)

Not unnaturally I agree with part of what Senator Lydon has said. Although I have been long a supporter of women's rights, I do not see the European Court of Justice ruling as a women's rights issue. What we have heard in the Chamber this morning is political correctness gone utterly mad. The debate should be on length of service and not on an aspect of discrimination. If one accepts length of service as a criteria, then it is ludicrous to reward people for not being at work. I never heard anything so bizarre in my life.