Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Buttimer and ask the Leader to ask the Taoiseach to resume the talks on social partnership. Aggression is building and people are upset and annoyed. I know the Government will do everything in its power to resume the talks.

Like other female Senators, I am annoyed. I noted the debate on the participation of women in politics in my diary for this week and went to the trouble of preparing for it. Any subject with a feministic ring to it is put at the end of the agenda. I have been calling for a debate on anorexia nervosa and bulimia for the past two and a half years but it has not been held. Neither has the debate on domestic violence. We would like to see both subjects debated. It is about time women Senators stuck together and let this be known. Female Members on the Government side will not be voting in favour of Senator Fitzgerald's amendment but we will voice our concerns.

I was delighted to read in The Irish Times that Bishop Willie Walsh of Killaloe had expressed the view that the Pope should meet victims of clerical abuse. I say, "Well done, Bishop Willie Walsh". I hope we will have many more debates on child protection, particularly the protection of children who have been abused.