Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I note the proposed amendments to the Order of Business. I agree we should have a debate on issues relating to the Health Service Executive. I heard the rather bizarre exchange - it was not so much an exchange as a series of successive interviews - concerning the dispute between the HSE and the Ombudsman for Children. I do not understand what is at issue here. However, if we are to have a debate, it should focus on more substantial issues than this argument and the fact that lawyers may be involved. There is an all too frequent recourse to criticism of lawyers. Sometimes lawyers are necessary, tragically. We should ask if the HSE could say it was conducting an audit when circulating a questionnaire containing a section which could not be filled in. That is the substantive question which we should be asking. I certainly support the call for a debate on this subject.

Senator Quinn's motion on energy is timely and reasonable. I cannot see why the Government brought forward an amending motion. Could we not come to a new bipartisanship in discussions about such important matters, particularly at a time like this?

My colleague, Senator Bacik, referred to the fact that Pope Benedict XVl was criticised in the Lancet for his views on AIDS prevention and condoms. It is worth noting that a leading expert, Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS prevention research project at the Harvard centre for population and development says, "the best evidence we have supports the Pope's comment". Dr. Green is, by the way, a supporter of condom use.