David Norris (Independent)

And a Gogarty to you too, sir.

Many issues of considerable importance are before the House today but the most urgent is the Supreme Court's extremely important decision, which I welcome. I wish to express my sympathy to the Roche family on both sides of the argument. It is painful and difficult to go to court and I am sure they both feel rather bruised today. We in both Houses cannot feel satisfied with the situation because this is the umpteenth time we have been rebuked. My colleagues are quite right to point out that this is a Government responsibility but all of us, as Members of the Oireachtas, share the reproach and blame. The Chief Justice remarked on the fact that the Supreme Court has been calling for action in this area for 14 years. We have had reports from various groups, such as the 2005 report from the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction, and the report of the Irish Council for Bioethics a year later. However, nothing has been done. Today's decision is highly significant because in at least one, if not all of the judgments, the view is taken that the embryo before implantation is not fully human and does not attract the protection of Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution. This highlights a major gap in legislation. The judgment will have very significant effects on embryonic stem cell research. This House can hold its head up high because Dr. Mary Henry sat on the commission and introduced a Bill here which those of us on the Independent benches supported. We can exonerate ourselves from blame.

On a housekeeping matter, there is a statue in the car park of Queen Victoria's husband. She was transported to Australia, which some feel is an appropriate fate for that monarch while he languishes in the car park. Yesterday was the one hundred and somethingth anniversary of his death. Whatever its political content, the statue is a superb work of art by a great Irish sculptor, Foley. It would be useful if a small amount was spent on removing the shrubbery that surrounds it.

I call for a debate on the Corrib gas field. Maura Harrington has been sent to jail again and we have the scandal of the waste of enormous revenues, which could help plug holes in our finances, given away by Mr. Burke and Mr. Ahern.