David Norris (Independent)

I am glad that Senator Brian Hayes raised the question of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and the ludicrous fact that it is paying out more in claims than is being spent by local authorities on fixing footpaths. The local authorities should be spending more on their footpaths. Three weeks ago I had a serious fall in Wicklow Street. I did not sue anyone because I do not believe in that but I welcome the opportunity to bring this to the attention of the House.

One of the problems is that the street surfaces in Dublin are either not properly maintained, being precipitous, dangerous and broken, or the wrong materials are used. I was on Wicklow Street where there is cobble lock which has designs in white ceramic tiling. It is very pretty but it is a death trap, the tiles are like ice. The Spire has an attractive metal surround but people fall on it every day of the week. The way the entire road surface in O'Connell Street is designed is thoroughly dangerous. There is no grip at all and elderly people are at serious risk.

Will the Seanad provide an opportunity to consider No. 26, motion 3, in my name, on Tibet, especially in light of the appalling events there in recent days? A group of 40 Tibetan refugees attempting to escape across the Himalayas were set upon, attacked and shot in the back as they moved away. A 17 year old nun was killed. As usual, the Chinese lied about it, saying that the border guards were protecting themselves. Border guards should not be there; Tibet is not part of China. We are collaborating in this because we have allowed, without any debate in the Oireachtas, a shift in our position that accepts the incorporation of Tibet into China.

I also support Senator O'Toole in his remarks on climate change. We have been misled in this House and we have met complete and utter complacency. The Minister indicated that he knows damn well that we are going way beyond our Kyoto targets and those targets will not even rectify the situation. What is the answer? We are happily told that we will buy our way out of it. Buying carbon credits is the worst possible solution. We know how serious this is now as a result of Sir Nicholas Stern's report. The British Government has at last woken up to the problem, appointing Al Gore to talk sense to the United States, because it is among the worst polluters. There should also be a debate on this, as outlined in No. 26, motion 21 on the Order Paper.

Will the Cathaoirleach intervene in another matter? Yet again today, and I am furious about this, as other Members should be, the House and the Cathaoirleach have been insulted by an Oireachtas committee. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, of which I am a member and every meeting of which I have attempted to attend, has again, despite my protests and attempts to ensure it would not be quorate and despite my walking out last week, coincided the time of the committee meeting with the Order of Business in this House, showing complete contempt for it, as it does every week. We are apparently prepared to put up with that. Will the Cathaoirleach use his powers to ensure Seanad Éireann is treated with some respect?