Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

I join Senator Bacik in calling for a debate on the representation of women in the Oireachtas. The recent experience of Hillary Clinton has shown some of the issues which pertain to the representation of women.

I ask that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government come to the House to explain why he is enforcing the birds directive which is making a special area of conversation of the entire harbour area of Wexford town. It will effectively stymie development and will mean we cannot get a second bridge and that the harbour, which is a public fishery, will not be able to work. Even our opera festival will be affected. It is opened with a fireworks display but that will frighten the birds, so it will not happen. In short, this directive is for the birds and I beseech the Minister not to implement it.

We should have a debate on the tribunal because nobody on this side of the House is afraid of such a debate. Let us bring everything out in the open — for example, who is leaking information? We should debate the systematic leaks and dubious witnesses getting dubious immunity from prosecution from the tribunal. Perhaps the Members opposite know who in certain professions, particularly the barristers' profession, is leaking information to the Daily Mail. Let us get a few answers.