David Norris (Independent)

I ask for a debate on the Middle East, specifically the deteriorating situation in Iraq. Yesterday, 85 people were tragically killed as they tried to buy foodstuffs in a market. Queues of unemployed men are being bombed in a sectarian civil war. Mr. Nuri al-Maliki was practically blown up by the reverberations from a bomb while appealing for peace at a press conference. It is a disaster. We have, in North Korea, an example of how United States policy can work if the State Department is allowed to do its job. Following difficult and protracted negotiations it appears negotiators are on the verge of success in persuading North Korea to abandon the nuclear option.

The plight of deaf people has been brought to my attention again by a constituent. Some time ago I asked the Leader about the universal new born hearing screening programme which can identify hearing loss in children at a very young age. The Government was asked to introduce it in 1998 but nothing has been done. I hope we can convince it to adopt the programme. Even Romania, Latvia and Slovenia, which have weaker economies than Ireland, have introduced it. The programme gives people a chance.

I ask the Leader to raise with the Minister for Health and Children the use of Irish sign language in hospitals. I understand there have been a number of cases where patients with hearing difficulties have found great problems in making their symptoms known to doctors. This is because even in hospitals with some signage system, the British system is used and there is nobody who can use Irish sign language.

While it is a slightly parochial matter, I am seeking a debate on the theatre. We could include the location of the Abbey Theatre about which I have tabled a motion on the Order Paper. Although I often praise Trinity College, I wish to express some concern in this regard. I am sorry Senator Ryan is not present to hear me say a few critical things about that establishment. We can be proud of the fact that a Trinity academic, Dr. Anil Kokaram, has been nominated for an Oscar for devising a film computerisation programme. However, it seems as if theatre will only be rewarded in the technical areas because of the closure of the drama studies course in Trinity College. I am concerned about reports that have reached me that members of the staff of TCD are being silenced. A fatwa has been circulated notifying staff that they are not to talk about this issue with the press, under any circumstances, even though it affects their livelihood and the standard of the university.