David Norris (Independent)

I thank the Minister for her courteous response. This will be my last intervention on this matter. To have something in the heads of a Bill does not matter a tuppenny damn. In the Charities Bill 2007, we had a clear indication that human rights would be included as it had been included in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and even Australia. However, it was suddenly whipped out. How do I know that my human rights will not be whipped out at a convenient moment? The fact that it is in the heads of a Bill has no significance whatever in law. That is what we are here for. We are not here to daydream about how wonderful it might be in 2009 if the Government gets itself together and does something. We are here to legislate.

With the greatest regret, I do not accept what the Minister has to say. I have had too many promises for too long. There has been too much of what the late Sean O'Casey would have called "prognostication and prevarication". I will call votes on all these things from now until the Government stirs itself and does something. It has been long enough in the waiting.