Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Many of us commented yesterday on what Archbishop Diarmuid Martin had to say but why is it that when the church fails people, it is people who are to blame, but when agencies of the State such as the HSE, the Garda or Departments fail people, it is the system that is to blame? Why is it that we reach different levels of outrage depending on which group is culpable?

Senator Alex White is absolutely right in that we ought to have a debate in this House on the report of the Ombudsman for Children and Geoffrey Shannon's report on child protection. If this House was operating in a functional - as distinct from dysfunctional - way we would have an announcement that these reports will be taken in two weeks, with Seanadóirí having the opportunity to do their research in order to come here with constructive responses on what those reports have to say about child protection among State agencies and church bodies. We would comment without fear or favour and contribute to the policy making process in this country. I ask the Leader for such a debate in a couple of weeks.

Another area in which we need a debate is on the report from the Forum on End of Life in Ireland. There is a great debt of gratitude owing to the Irish Hospice Foundation for the excellent work it does in hospice-friendly hospital care. I was honoured to be asked to take part in one of the sessions in the forum and the report has been published today. We should read this report and I intend to bring forward a Private Members' motion on the need to develop hospice-friendly hospital care.

We should consider the statistic that 76% of people die in emergency room settings but 5% of the cases are trauma-related. We are not getting it right if we are to consider people's aspirations in meeting their end. They want to be able to die at home with all that is necessary if possible. We are not reaching that standard in Ireland. The Irish Hospice Foundation is to be commended for driving us on and we should have a debate on its report.