Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I welcome the raising of the issue of the closure of pubs on Good Friday. It would be useful to have a debate on such issues, especially in light of a recent speech by the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Mansergh, in which he reflected on the type of model Ireland should adopt in its search for pluralism. He considered whether we should go for the complete 1789 separation of church and State or whether we should go for something that is more inclusive and respectful of different traditions while at the same time acknowledging the proper distinctions between church and State. I would shed no tears if there was a change in this law, yet I wonder whether we would lose something, particularly considering how Ash Wednesday is very successfully used by religious and non-religious alike to promote abstention from smoking and making an effort in that area. Something good can be achieved by drawing on the tradition of Good Friday. I know people with no particular religious faith who, for example, sometimes give up something for Lent in solidarity with a sick relative or for some such reason. We should not re-fight the culture wars over this issue. We should have a debate, but we should also be mindful of the value of traditions and their potential to contribute to people's lives.

I disagree with Senator Bacik. I support the Church of Ireland as a minority which seeks to ensure its particular tradition is reflected and that there is access to teacher training for members of its community. This access demonstrates a valuable respect for a minority in our society.

In the context of international women's day, I draw attention to a stirring article in The Economist entitled "Gendercide". Some 100 million women have gone missing in the world as a result of abortion or infanticide because of sex selection policies, especially in China and India. I am concerned that the women's movement has lost sight of this. I am concerned that its members are almost nervous to question the choice of killing a born or unborn female child lest they blaspheme at the altar of choice at which they are supposed to worship. I would like the Minister for Foreign Affairs to come to the House and inform us of what the Government is doing to raise this troubling issue in international fora. This is as important as any other human rights abuse in any other part of the world.