David Norris (Independent)

I deplore the use of the guillotine when dealing with legislation. This is not the first time it has been used; it is becoming a regular feature in this Chamber. I had great hopes of the new Administration but it is now beginning to exhibit all the very traits it so stringently commented upon when in Opposition.

This morning we learned the Defence (Amendment) Bill proposes to institute a particular person. This is a disgraceful abuse of legislation and should be exposed. My friends and colleagues on the other side of the House supported me when I objected to a similar disgraceful move with the immigration and naturalisation Bill. Can we please have the standards they adhered to then and advertised during the general election? We on this side of the House will certainly hold Members opposite to these standards, just as we held the previous Government.

This is our opportunity to save Seanad Éireann but some Members continue to behave in this shabby way. With its overwhelming majority, there are great temptations for the Government which could lead to arrogance. I would be very sad if my friends on the opposite side of the House started to behave in such a way. It is an early opportunity for us to serve them a little bit of a warning, therefore.

There have been a series of good articles in the Irish Examiner detailing enormous property transactions involving religious orders in the redress scheme. Many of these orders clearly made some use, as they were entitled to, of the property bubble. However, even the meagre amounts of compensation set down in the Woods deal have not been met by these same orders. It is most regrettable. The victims of clerical abuse should be of the primary concern of all involved. I welcome that Senator Martin McAleese has been appointed chair of the investigation into the Magdalen laundries. The survivors of a similar institution, the Protestant-run Bethany Home, like the Magdalen survivors, have been excluded from redress. Will Senator McAleese examine the possibility of including them?

I was astonished to learn Senator Rónán Mullen is the trustee of 120 schools. I would be interested if he could give us further information on this. I have been a trustee for a small number of groups and charities but they never amounted to more than four at a time because of the question of proper guardianship. I am sure there is an explanation but to be trustee of 120 schools seems a little excessive.