Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Can we have a debate in the immediate future on the grievances being articulated by nurses, the apparent conflict, once more, between the Taoiseach and Minister for Health and Children regarding the approach to this issue, the apparent dissent within one of the Government parties to the Minister's approach, and, far more seriously, the quality of the working conditions and rewards we offer to nurses? Most people who have experience of any aspect of our hospital service recognise that nurses work extremely hard under extraordinary pressure for rewards which are small relative to those enjoyed by persons who claim to be the great and the good in this country. A debate in this House in which the views being expressed behind closed doors could be articulated in public might help us to advance the cause. I ask the Acting Leader for some indication that such a debate might take place.

Yet again, I raise the issue of the apparent descent into something close to civil war in the Palestinian territories in Gaza. The use of language in discussions of this issue is extraordinary. It has been omitted or lost by many commentators that there is an elected Government in the Palestinian territories to which nobody will talk. This is a recipe for instability. The Western world, and the world in general, has taken a single view on this. That view is part of the problem.

On the Order of Business, the Acting Leader announced that No. 2 will conclude at 5 p.m. Does this mean that if Committee Stage is not completed by then, he will terminate the debate?

I agree with my colleagues, Senators Brian Hayes and O'Toole, that the issue of children's rights in the Constitution is far too profound and complex to be rushed. We in this House regularly encounter mistakes in legislation. This was the case as recently as last week. The prospect that an erroneous, badly phrased or ambiguously worded amendment relating to children's rights might be included in the Constitution is something that should concern us all. I appeal to the Government to consider a means of allowing these issues — about which there is an overwhelming consensus in many cases, at least in terms of the objectives — to be debated in a way that does not generate either disagreement within the Houses or disagreement through misunderstanding or malicious representation outside the Houses. The best way to calm such matters is to leave sufficient time for debate and not give the impression that the process is being rushed.