Joe O'Toole (Independent)

On victim impact statements, an issue I raised previously, their standing in law has never been explained to us. We recognise that certain judges regularly allow or facilitate such statements but we are not sure how they fit into legislation. It would be helpful, therefore, if we had a debate in a non-confrontational manner on where the issue stands. I have a lot of time for Mr. Justice Carney and admire what he says. However, while I find myself in agreement with many of his comments, I also have a number of questions to ask about the reason he raised the issue in the manner he did. It did not seem the appropriate setting for such an important debate. Some of the issues he raised were within his control. He could, for example, have intervened on the addendum to the agreed victim impact statement but chose not to do so. I would like to have a debate in a political context in order that we could hear the views of each side in a non-confrontational manner. While I am in favour of victim impact statements, I am unclear on how a judge is supposed to take them into consideration in coming to his or her conclusions.

I ask the Deputy Leader to examine the issue of climate change and carbon emissions because it is appropriate to his party. Most uninterested people say Ireland is only a small country that can achieve little in this regard. The matter should be localised. I would like the Minister to consider having a carbon audit per county with each county producing an annual report on carbon emissions and how they have changed from year to year. This would localise the matter and make it something people feel they would be better equipped to tackle. I would like to hear the deputy leader's response.

Last week we restored to the Order Paper some of the Government's legislation. With the agreement of the deputy leader, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business. Nos. 23 and 24 refer to the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill, in my name and that of Senator Paul Coghlan, and the Civil Partnership Bill, in the names of Senator David Norris and others. I ask that as the first two items of business the proposal that they be restored to the Order Paper be taken without debate.