David Norris (Independent)

One must look at the organisations that will be excluded, such as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Amnesty International. These bodies, while supportive of the Government in some instances, have been critical of it in the past. It appears there is an attempt to muzzle the voice of legitimate criticism.

Among the organisations this applies to, section 3(10)(j) includes organisations involved in "the prevention or relief of suffering of animals". I am all in favour of that but it is a curious Government that puts the civil rights of animals above the civil rights of human beings. That is what this legislation does. It is absurd, unless the Minister of State is saying humans are animals and, as animals, we could say we are looking for our animal rights. Most people would think that a step down. I am not sure if it would be a step up because there are many instances in which the human has proved himself or herself or itself to be the most nasty and destructive of all the animals. It is absurd that we are prepared to protect animals but not human beings. What is the problem with human beings?

The closest to the recommendations of the Law Society of Ireland that Senator Bacik has so effectively quoted is amendment No. 15 because the words are almost identical: "the promotion and protection of human rights". It is also the closest to the same provision in the other jurisdiction. I urge the Minister of State to take this on board because, otherwise, I believe his reputation will suffer.