Dan Boyle (Green Party)

Several Senators raised the remarks made by Mr. Justice Carney on victim impact statements. While there are necessary constraints between the Judiciary and the Government, it is obvious that the judge was referring to the impact of victims' statements and the issue should be widely debated. We should be grateful to the judge for raising the issue. It was raised in a precise and rational manner and, as a result, the cold nature of the language may have affected some of those involved in this case. That does not deny the need for the debate and a response from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the demands made in the House today on the issue. As part of that debate, Senator Mullen's request about a review of the lack of information given to victims as cases progress can be put to the Minister.

Many Senators spoke about the impact of the budget cutbacks by the Health Service Executive, with references to Ministers talking about the lack of impact the freeze will have. It is legitimate to debate this regularly under the accountability brief we hold in this House. If the Minister or a Minister of State in the Department of Health and Children is available, the issues raised can be addressed.

Senator O'Toole asked about a county by county carbon footprint to see where the impact of climate change is most felt in Ireland. Under the programme for Government, as part of this year's budgetary process there will be a carbon budget. We can find out how that information is made available.

Senator White asked about the number of children in care and how that compares to other states. There have been requests for the Minister of State with responsibility for children to come to the House and this could be another issue that would be part of the debate when he is available.

There was a return to an issue raised yesterday, World Mental Health Day, with questions on anorexia and mental illness. Senator Harris spoke of the continuing, unchanging stigma attached to mental illness. Not only is there a need for such a debate but it should focus on those who have experience of mental illness and the mental health services because such people are rarely heard when discussing the matter.

Senator Hannigan asked about overseas development aid. The Government is committed to achieving the 0.7% of GNP target by 2012 and while there is no immediate plan to increase to that figure, offsetting of carbon emissions from Government travel will be undertaken through projects in areas where Irish development aid is in place. That will increase the amount going to development aid and should increase the figure the Senator has in mind.

Senator Butler called for a debate on housing and asked that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government come into the House. I will make that request of both the Minister and the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. The Senator also mentioned empty houses. The All-Party Committee on the Constitution tried to address this when dealing with questions on property in a recent report. There are constitutional issues related to taking empty properties into public ownership but the legislation dealing with dormant accounts demonstrates there is scope for provision for dormant estates to cover intestate property that is unused and which could be used for socially advantageous purposes.

Senator Callely spoke about procedures, but the point should be made that this is the seventh sitting of the 23rd Seanad, which is still relatively early into our term. It is a very new Seanad in so far as 35 of its 60 Members are new to this House, while 25 are new to the Oireachtas. Therefore, there is still a feeling around process as to what the procedures are and how to follow them. Some of this will become much clearer, however, when in the next month joint Oireachtas committees will be formed. The focus of those committees will be to invite people not only from Departments but also agencies such as the HSE to ask the type of questions that are being posed regularly here.

The final point raised concerned diplomatic services in large countries where Ireland is not represented by an embassy. A request can be made to the Department of Foreign Affairs on that matter.

I have skipped the contributions of several Members who revisited the call for a debate on abortion, which was raised yesterday. To reiterate what I said then, if leaders of groups in the House feel there is a consensus for such a debate there is nothing stopping us from doing so. However, I would be dubious if such a consensus could be reached.

Particular concerns have been expressed about how the Crisis Pregnancy Agency deals with certain organisations. There is scope under our Standing Orders for people to raise such matters either on the Adjournment or by framing a particular question as a motion for Private Members' business. Outside a wider agreement between leaders of groups in the House as to how the issue can be approached in a more substantial manner, I cannot see a more imminent debate taking place. I thank Senators for their contributions.