David Norris (Independent)

-----but I understand that a considerable amount of work has gone into it. An historic opportunity has been missed through a lack of vision on the part of Government. What we have is the copperfastening of inequality and discrimination, but it is an advance. When will the Bill be presented to the House and will it be introduced in this Chamber, where such legislation was pioneered some five or six years ago?

The worst aspect of the Bill is that the position of children is completely ignored. This is not a matter of sex or religion. Rather, it is about the rights of children. During the commemorations of the 1919 sitting of the first Dáil, we heard much bleating about cherishing the children of the nation equally and children's rights, but it looks as if the Government has learned nothing. It does not give a fish's tit for the rights of children, going by the Bill.

I also wish to raise a subject to which my good friend and colleague on the other side of the House, Senator Harris, will want to contribute, namely, the Shell to Sea campaign. He and I asked for a debate. I suggest that Members might like to look at the picture in last weekend's Sunday Independent. It shows an enormous ship with its jaws open like a dragon to devour the mineral resources of this country. Another picture shows a vast ship dwarfing one of the Naval Service vessels. The pictures tell us who is in control. All of the oil companies have their tongues out a yard long for oil. Its price is increasing as its amount decreases. Now is the time to renegotiate on behalf of the people. Shell can take our gas through our land and expose people to danger, but we have the opportunity to bid for it on the open market. Well, gee, thanks, Shell.