Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Leader of the Opposition, Senator Brian Hayes, raised a matter I read about in a newspaper this morning. I was shocked by what I read. It was the worst case of sexual depravity I ever read about suffered by a young woman when walking down a street in Dublin. As the Senator said, passers by turned the other way, although there could be many reasons they did so. Senator Norris told us explicitly what happened to him when he went to help a person, but it is easy for us to stand back from this attack and say it was a dreadful event and comment on how it was handled. On another level, it awakens the debate on active citizenship. However, surely in a purely humble, biblical way, one does not turn one's face away when a person is in trouble, rather one goes to the person's aid.

Senator Brian Hayes raised the matter of a referendum on the rights of children. He rightly asked in that context if a referendum could be held on matters related to reforms of the Seanad, as more than one referendum will be required. I agree with the Senator and he said we should meet the Taoiseach on this matter. I propose that the five leaders of the parties would go to see the Taoiseach and put this proposal to him. I will arrange that and report back to the Senator.

Senator O'Toole raised the Judge Curtin case. The deputy leader of this House said he could not report on it because he is a member of the relevant committee and it would be entirely wrong for him to so.