David Norris (Independent)

I join with Senator Brian Hayes in his concern about the attitude of the Government towards the National Children's Hospital in Tallaght. I will simply point out that the name "national children's hospital" resides legally with Tallaght Hospital. This must be examined as does the fact that the Government gave clear commitments to Tallaght that the National Children's Hospital would be continued and developed at Tallaght. One waits to see what will materialise.

The situation with regard to the nurses is serious. It worries many people in the community who rely on the professional standards of nursing and medical care when they are taken ill. It is ridiculous to have a situation where nursing staff supervise less qualified people than themselves and are paid less than the less qualified people they supervise. It is an absurd situation and is extremely aggravating for nursing staff.

However, although I have always strongly supported the nurses, I believe they are in danger of losing public sympathy if they threaten or use the strike weapon. This is very clear from soundings one hears on every radio and television programme, in the newspapers and speaking with people on the streets. I would caution the nursing profession against taking too strong and militant a stance as I am afraid it may lose public sympathy.

I join Senator O'Toole in expressing an interest in No. 1 on the Order of Business. I was going to indicate my regret at it being passed without debate but there seems to be a mechanism whereby it may come back to us. It is very important we discuss it. The Schengen agreement is a complex and important matter but this also deals with the exchange of information.

I am in possession of information which leads me to believe that people in this country who come from other territories sometimes have their cases very seriously prejudiced by the lodging with the system of completely untrue and anonymous information, which is subsequently used by the Irish authorities against such people. There is no recourse, and when people ask what the information is, they are told it will not be given to them. It is a Kafkaesque scenario and one I propose to explore a little further.

I refer to the point raised by Senator Tuffy. I also read the article by Carol Coulter, an extremely fine journalist who is very clear and dispassionate in what she writes. Mr. John Waters wrote an extraordinary article, published yesterday in the same newspaper, which seemed set on undermining her position and professional role. It made some extraordinary insinuations against her. It is very strongly rebutted by Dr. Coulter in this morning's paper.

A concern of mine as I read the article by Mr. Waters was that he seemed to deplore the existence of the guardian ad litem, to which I would take great exception.