Alex White (Labour)

I have an admission to make. I am at something of a disadvantage every week at this time when Private Members' business is taken because I am a member of a committee that only seems to sit at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. I do not wish to share the burden of my problems with colleagues but it is relevant in the sense that not once but possibly three times Senator Boyle referred to the question of our participation in an important debate sponsored by the Green Party last week. I wish to put my position on the record in the same way that Senator Boyle was so anxious to put on the record his displeasure that we were not present for last week's debate. The principal reason for my not being here last week is that I was attending a committee which, I am sure colleagues will agree, is an important one. The Ryan report was recently published in respect of which everybody had a great deal to say. I accept it is not in order to deal with this issue now and that we will have an opportunity to debate the report at a future date in this House. The Cathaoirleach need not worry I will not stray into that debate except to say that I note that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stated that the best legacy that could be left to the victims of child abuse would be for an amendment to be made to the Constitution to confirm the rights of children. I agree with him. Obviously, the Green Party considers that to be an extremely important objective. My response, which I want placed on the record, is that it is a pity that party did not consider it sufficiently important to at any time during the past two years send a single representative to that committee.