Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Senator Mary White made a strong case for the victims of thalidomide. Those of us who have met them know how strongly that case needs to be made. That applied to those thalidomide victims in Europe. An interesting point is that there was no thalidomide allowed into the United States. The reason it was not allowed into the United States was because of a strong woman who was in charge of the Food and Drugs Administration who stated she wanted scientific proof before she would allow this. She stood out against all the vested interests who stated that the United States should make thalidomide available as there was a great need for it. However, it was not made available in the United States. This is exactly the point Senator Harris is making. Here is the heroism of a public servant who stood out against the vested interests, who did not go native and who stated she would hold out against all the strong cases made until she got scientific evidence. It seems there are cases like this, one example of which was touched on by Senator Harris, of those who do not go native. One of the opportunities provided to us is in the Oireachtas committees. The Oireachtas committees are doing marvellous work which enables us to get behind the normal procedures that we have had in the past and to get something done rather than delaying these activities.

On a point raised by Senator Mullen earlier, Private Members' Bills are seldom accepted. I do not know of many cases of such Bills being accepted, other than one Senator Leyden had accepted some time ago. I am thinking in particular of a Bill I introduced, namely the Human Body Organ and Human Tissue Bill 2008, where the Minister accepted the point made and stated the Government would have some consultation before introducing it. The Minister accepted the point that we needed to do something to enable those who are waiting for livers, hearts and kidneys to have the ability to receive them. My Bill was to do with presumed consent. The consultations, which started in October 2008, are ongoing. Yesterday we received the intention of Government on plans for the various Bills. One must go to the end of that document to find No. 65, the Human Tissue Bill, which is not the Bill of which the Minister spoke but a different Bill. It seems we take far too long to do things that will save lives. Let us ensure we move on these matters with much greater alacrity than we have in the past.