Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I echo the calls for further debate on Seanad reform following the successful debate last night that was prompted by Senator O'Toole's motion. It would be useful for Members to debate Fine Gael's proposals on Seanad reform. I also made some modest proposals for internal reforms to Seanad procedures to make its sittings somewhat more accessible and more relevant. The Leader should take on board these proposals, if possible.

I also welcome the call for a debate on the role of the universities. It would be important in the light of the welcome announcement regarding the merger of research between UCD and Trinity and its potential to create a large number of businesses as well as up to 30,000 jobs. Moreover, there have been some important initiatives from universities and institutes of technology in recent years. I refer in particular to the campus company initiatives in Trinity and the recently announced cross-Border initiative between Dundalk Institute of Technology and a college in the North. This is highly useful and should be debated further.

I also seek a debate on the equality infrastructure and on the announcement at the weekend by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, that the decentralisation of the Equality Authority would be reversed and that additional funding would be provided. I understand that nothing has been done yet to implement that announcement. It would be important to debate what the Government has done thus far to weaken the equality infrastructure and to ascertain whether it can be reversed, as the Minister announced. The Leader should clarify this point.

I ask the Leader for the timing of the civil partnership Bill, which was supposed to come to this House in March. Given that we are nearing the end of March, will this Bill be with Members before Easter?

I welcome the news from the United States that President Barack Obama has announced a lifting of the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research. I read President Obama's speech given last Monday, 9 March in which he put things so eloquently. The President's words should provide the context in which Members debate embryonic stem cell research. He speaks of the need not to make a false choice between sound science and moral values.