Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I echo the points made by Senator Ross. I would like to think we were working hard with a good deal of legislation and plenty of time for it to be discussed, particularly the changes in the auctioneering field.

In regard to a call yesterday and last week for a debate on the family, if it is appropriate and deemed necessary to discuss the family, that is fine, but it is odd that the Legislature should discuss the matter. What I found disturbing were the preferences expressed yesterday. Surely, as long as individuals and family units, whether traditional or non-traditional, are functioning it is not the job of the State to interfere and decide a preference one way or the other.

I reiterate the calls in regard to the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and its difficulty in getting CURA to honour its service agreement. While I know the Minister has been quietly trying to get it to honour this agreement, it is an absolute disgrace that it has signed an agreement to give non-judgmental information and is now refusing to do so while continuing to receive public moneys. This is a scandal. The Crisis Pregnancy Agency was set up to minimise the number of crisis pregnancies. Included in that agency is a body that refuses to co-operate and yet is in receipt of State money. I would like the Minister to come into the House and explain why she has not had success in having this resolved. I echo the calls made last week for a debate on the matter. When public money is being used for a certain prejudice it is not appropriate and is a matter that should be debated.