David Norris (Independent)

The violence came the other way and I have seen videos of some of this stuff.

With regard to the HSE and the Ombudsman for Children, I find it extraordinary. I listened to Mr. Kane and it sounded like the Caine mutiny. Apparently, he would not talk and then he wanted it done with lawyers. This delay and waste is symptomatic of the HSE. He is supposed to be protecting children, but actually seems to be protecting, first, the HSE and, second, the Church. I do not think that is the duty of the HSE, so it must be cleared up.

I join with other colleagues, including with Senator Fitzgerald, in expressing concern about the bilateral adoption agreement with Vietnam. All of us who spoke on that debate expressed great concern about the possibility that this deadline would be missed and now it has been. We have a good, intelligent and decent Minister of State. I do not know how the current position came about and I will not blackguard the Minister of State who is a decent man but the position is not acceptable. Yesterday, I received 60 e-mails on this matter, which is indicative of the level of public concern. 3 o'clock