David Norris (Independent)

Senator Leyden has placed very significant news on the record of the House. This is a most serious matter. There are people with deep and profoundly held convictions on both sides of the issue. It touches the most serious level of our life and our values as a people. I very much hope that unlike some previous occasions when this matter was discussed, it will be done in a calm rational way with respect for divergence of opinion and that whatever solution may be arrived at will be in the best interests of the people.

Can the Leader give us any indication as to whether the immigration Bill will come before the House? Will it be before the Government ceases to exist? It is a complex and controversial Bill. This morning I listened to Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy delivering her thought for the day. She was very reflective and instanced a case which I believe we all know about of an asylum seeker who was deported on foot of a traffic offence. That does not seem to me to be at all proportionate and the sooner we have proper legislation in this area the better.

I completely agree with Senator O'Toole about eurobonds about which I have spoken. If the euro strengthens so will the financial community within the European Union, just as happened in the case of the development of the state of Germany out of a series of small German states, Prussia, in particular. A type of centrifugal force is involved. It started as a customs unit and continued. In my view, that progress is inevitable and we should stand together. We have not seen much in the way of comradeship or solidarity from our European partners, with particular regard to the excessive rates being forced on the Irish people in order to pay for the speculative banking habits of some of the largest European banks. This is wrong and intolerable. The eurobond is a measure that should be considered.