Joe O'Toole (Independent)

While it is a good reflection on what has happened in the time which has passed, I remember some 20 years ago seconding a motion tabled by my colleague, Senator Norris, on the importance of dealing with on AIDS. There was a big question at the time as to whether politicians should even be discussing the issue. This was the first House to discuss it. At the time many Members were embarrassed and disconcerted at the fact the motion was being brought forward. It is important to recognise this and the fact that this House led the way on the issue, as it did on many other issues. In general, it is issues which should drive the work done in this House.

On one of the points made by Senator Fitzgerald, whether I agree with her, there is a bigger issue involved. It is one that will continually arise in the next two months in politics, namely, that of Members having a go at each other across the House. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, invited this yesterday. I completely agree with the points made by Senator Fitzgerald about the language used, which was wrong, although I can see from where the Minister was coming. This is happening all of the time; when we should be looking at issues, we will be looking at other Members. It will be about what one Government did to another and six months later another Government will state it can do nothing because of what the previous Government did, while the previous Government will ask where has the change got us. I ask colleagues on all sides to at all times focus on issues and what they have done or others have not done about an issue.

Although I did not have time to listen to the Minister of State's speech on Private Members' business yesterday, I suspect it was well over half an hour long.