Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I join others in criticising the management of the Order of Business this week and next week. It is not just that we are looking for more time to whinge about particular measures of criminal justice legislation. These are very important items of legislation for victims of crime, for those who may be charged with crimes and for all of us in society. When a previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, former Deputy Michael McDowell, was putting what became the Criminal Justice Act 2007 through the Oireachtas, a letter from the Irish Criminal Bar Association alerted him during the course of the debate to a fundamental flaw in the Bill, which was amended as a result.

It is very important for the sake of ensuring robust criminal justice legislation in particular that we are given adequate time to deal with the Bill. I ask the Leader to give the House some indication as to what time we have to debate this most important Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill, which it seems may be before the Seanad at the beginning of next week. We have already had the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill rushed through. We shall have the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill tomorrow and that is not to speak of the other important Bills we have to deal with today, tomorrow and Thursday.

I join others in welcoming the return of Ms Mairéad Corrigan-Maguire and Mr. Derek Graham from Israel. This House needs to condemn wholeheartedly the action of Israel in kidnapping them, when all they were trying to do was to bring aid to the beleaguered people of Gaza, who have been suffering so badly since the Israeli bombardment and who still cannot rebuild their homes and lives because of the ongoing blockade. We need to ensure this issue remains under debate.

I am grateful to Senator Mullen for clarifying the matters he said Senator O'Toole and I had been confused about concerning family choice as regards children's education. I do not believe we were confused, but very clear about the figures as regards what families want for their children. What parents want is choice, which they are not getting at present, with more than 90% of schools at national level controlled by the Catholic Church. However, I am very envious of Senator Mullen's ability to produce a new survey for every particular mood or view he wishes to express. I wish I had that same capacity.