David Norris (Independent)

-----as I hope is the time for the indecent spectacle we witnessed of allegedly Independent Members using their momentary leverage to secure local advantage for their own little parishes. I find that disgusting when the entire country is facing a difficulty.

I also wish to raise the issue of child abuse again. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said that no church is above the law. That is factually incorrect. Yes, they are. The churches are above the law. They have been placed above the law by this Parliament and nothing is done about it at all. Let us first of all nail that lie. Let us then consider the consequence, which is that the Government is involved in the continuing, systematic, deliberate and knowing abuse of children. It is doing so by exempting the churches from the operation of equality legislation, inhibiting the anti-bullying programmes in schools and so on. It is also doing so in the terms of the partnership Bill, as proposed, in which the rights of children are specifically excluded, leaving them in a situation where they can be adopted by one member of a gay couple but left in limbo or returned to an institution when the adopting parent dies. That is a disgrace. I publically accuse the Government of knowingly, deliberately and cynically engaging in child abuse.

What is the fate of the Bill on electroconvulsive therapy? I am sure Senator Boyle will have noticed in today's newspapers that the records of psychiatric hospitals show this practice is still continuing with a considerable percentage being involuntary. I know the Senator's Bill has gone a certain way with support from all sides of the House. When will it be completed?