David Norris (Independent)

I am glad Senator Harris mentioned the late Christopher Nolan who was a very remarkable writer. Approximately 20 years ago, I gave a course of lectures in Trinity College Dublin about Ulysses and I heard a snorting, choking sound from the back of the lecture hall, which I realised was the most wonderful of sounds — the human laugh. Christopher Nolan's mother was there. He did not get very much from the State by way of support, services or anything else. What made the difference was that extraordinary, courageous and remarkable woman who saw, trapped in that damaged body, a real and sensitive intellect, and without her nothing would have happened. He would have remained trapped in that wheelchair. She deserves the thanks of the Irish reading public and of humanity for the wonderful way in which she supported her son. It cannot have been easy. That love and affection made all the difference to the life of this man. It is cause for celebration that, as Senator Harris said, he died at the age of 43. That is young but he lived longer than many people live on this planet and what a remarkable achievement he had to his name. His mother allowed him to bring that life to fruition. That was a completed life with a substantial achievement.

I would like a debate on the health services and I would also like a debate on the issue of the Combat Poverty Agency. I have a flimsy, tawdry, little report that confirms exactly what many of us thought would happen when the Government abolished the agency, which is that we would have a pseudo Combat Poverty Agency. When will we have a discussion on this matter?

I propose that we take No. 34 today, that is, the motion in the name of the Independents, which has the support of virtually all Senators. Senator Ross gave clear support for this and he is an authority on this matter. We should have a debate on the economy because, once again, it has consumed almost all the time devoted to the Order of Business. It is a very important issue, but this disaster or catastrophe, whatever one wishes to call it, is not a volcano, an earthquake or a tsunami. It is man made and it is, therefore, capable of human resolution. At its core is a lack of understanding of what has occurred in the money markets and to the concept of money. I would welcome an opportunity to give my views on it. Without a complete recalibration of the money market to bring the symbolic value of money back into alignment with human effort, we will return to the beginning of the cycle, namely, bartering. The one thing going for this island is that we can probably feed ourselves, but that is about as far as I would go.

I hope we will have a debate on the issue and I will not trespass any further on the time of the House. There was a debate on Iraq. We are facing an urgent issue and we must give ourselves the opportunity to debate it.

I respect my colleague, Senator O'Toole, and his decision not to pass the picket line, but I will pass it. Last Saturday, I marched in solidarity with the ushers and other officials of the House, but I am paid by the taxpayer to attend and try to address subjects. God knows, we do not meet so often that we could afford to waste one day. I will be in attendance and, while I hope that I will not need to pass the picket line, it will be the first picket line that I will have ever passed. It is what I am paid to do. In this serious situation, it would not be proper for me in all good conscience to stay outside the House.