David Norris (Independent)

I support Senator O'Toole's comments in respect of the morning-after pill. I was astonished to discover that a majority of young women who approach the medical authorities do not, because they were so drunk, know with whom they had sex or if they had sex. This behaviour places in context the Private Members' debate to take place later. There are people who do not want to allow respectable gay couples to marry and this is despite the fact that certain individuals from the group of which they are members engage in such questionable behaviour.

I agree with Senator McFadden on the Navan school bus tragedy. It would be extraordinary if this case were to be postponed for a year simply because a courthouse is not available. Surely some facility could be rented to allow the case to proceed.

Will the Leader make time available for a debate on homelessness? I am sure Members on all sides will agree with my request in this regard. I do not like to appear to be continually attacking or undermining the HSE. The executive is extremely large, is obliged to make difficult decisions and has limited resources. It was disturbing to hear Dr. Austin O'Carroll state on radio this morning that everything has been put on hold, that there will be no new investment and that the provision of a 32-bed transition facility for homeless people being discharged from hospital will not now proceed. It is incredible that, in the 21st century, citizens of our wealthy country continue to be discharged straight from hospital back onto the streets, where they may well die. This is despite the wonderful work done by people such as Alice Leahy.

I am seeking information regarding the ultimate destination of this noble House. It is obvious that we cannot transfer operations to the Natural History Museum because it would not be appropriate to do so. There are some extremely valuable exhibits in the museum that would have to be dismantled if the Seanad were to move there. It is extraordinary that we should be moved from a building that may be dangerous into one which is obviously dangerous.

I previously raised the notion, not in a completely jocular way, of the Seanad transferring its operations to the former Houses of Parliament building on College Green which is currently owned and occupied by the Bank of Ireland. If this option is being considered, one of my neighbours informed me this morning that when the building was sold to the bank, the Government of the day meanly included a proviso that it must never again be used for parliamentary purposes. The idea behind this was to neuter the Irish Parliament. Would it not be a fine gesture of republican defiance in respect of the Act of Union 1800 to introduce in Seanad Éireann legislation to reverse the proviso to which I refer?