Mary Henry (Independent)

I wish to speak to amendment No. 59. Sometimes we believe we have done something once a report has been produced. However, unless we discuss it and ascertain how we should act on it, it is useless. We get report after report on a variety of topics, 98% of which are never discussed in either House of the Oireachtas. When I was first elected to this House and discovered that the reports of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals had never been discussed in either House, I could scarcely believe it. Fortunately I managed to get them discussed every year fairly briskly. Twice during this session I have asked that the report of the Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention and the visiting committees' reports be discussed. I am sure the Leader has made every effort to allow such a debate.

It is pointless getting reports that nobody sees. They are of no value if they remain a secret. We want to learn from them. It allows that anything of a secret nature can be blotted out in the traditional manner. It is important that this legislation specifies that within a certain timeframe the report must be debated.