Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

Colleagues may have seen reports in today's newspapers of the serious sexual assault on a woman in Dublin in recent days. The young victim was on her way home in the early hours of the morning when she was taken to one side by three young men and sexually assaulted in an apartment block close to O'Connell Street. What is particularly outrageous about this latest attack is the fact that the young woman called out for help on a thoroughfare on which many hundreds of people were walking by but simply looked the other way and walked on.

This issue must be raised in a public forum such as this. Regardless of how many closed circuit television systems are installed and how many gardaí or members of the Garda reserve force are patrolling the streets, there is ultimately a responsibility on citizens to look out for and help each other. It is an appalling indictment of modern Ireland that a young woman could cry out for help and people would simply look the other way.

We in this House have a responsibility to highlight this issue in view of the depravity of the assaults being perpetrated on women and men. We must ask citizens to assist the Garda and help vulnerable people in order that we may stem the tide of criminality engulfing cities and towns throughout the State. In debating this issue, the House should send a clear signal to society that this issue must be addressed once and for all.

The Taoiseach has stated his clear intention to hold a referendum to ensure the rights of children are embraced in our Constitution. This is something I endorse and welcome. I note, however, that only two weeks ago, the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, said he did not believe there was any necessity for a constitutional change in this area. If the Government wishes to proceed on this basis between now and the general election, I ask all parties in this House which endorse the views of the Seanad Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, in which I, the Leader and other colleagues are involved, to see if we could use a referendum to push through reforms of the Seanad.

We all say we are committed to Seanad reform and on the first day back after the election of the new Seanad, we tasked a sub-committee to address the matter. The sub-committee has produced its report and there are constitutional implications in terms of a new Seanad. Let us hold that referendum at the same time as the other one if it is to be held between now and the general election. All the leaders of the groups in the House should meet the Taoiseach to put that suggestion to him.