Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I echo calls from Senators on both sides of the House for a cross-party motion on Pamela Izevbekhai. I attended the meeting in the audio visual room yesterday when she spoke so powerfully and eloquently about her dreadful experiences in Nigeria and her fears for the safety of her daughters, Naomi and Jemima, who are here in Ireland with her. There is enormous compassion and sympathy for her on both sides of the House. As a man of compassion, the Leader, I am sure, will not stand in the way of a cross-party motion. I was very proud to be involved in the drafting of the cross-party motion on Ingrid Betancourt. We could draft a more simple motion in this case, along the lines that the House calls on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to grant humanitarian leave to remain with Pamela and her daughters. Perhaps something straightforward would get support. All of us would be delighted to support it and put any influence we can on the Minister to ensure she remains. There is a real fear that if the European court rules against her between now and 20 January, when her case is next before the High Court, she may be deported immediately. I know we are in the second last day of sitting but there is a real urgency to agree this motion.

I welcome the debate on gun crime. Yesterday, it was reported that the head of the Garda Inspectorate, Kathleen O'Toole, had made a measured and sensible suggestion in terms of tackling gun crime on which we all might reflect. She stated that as head of the Boston police she instituted a system whereby police officers told her about individuals and families most at risk of becoming involved in gun and gang crime. Resources and diversionary tactics were then targeted at those families and young people. This a model for us as we see worrying developments, particularly the recent shooting by a 16 year old boy on the East Wall. Where we see gun crime perpetrated by people so young we must target resources and diversionary tactics to prevent young people falling into these situations.

I repeat a call I made on many occasions for a renewed debate on the Climate Protection Bill in the new year. This was first debated in October 2007 and was adjourned. Time remains on Second Stage and I would welcome a continuation of this debate in the context of the Poznan talks and the developments which have occurred since the Bill was first introduced. I will put pressure on the Leader in the new year to provide more time for this Bill.