Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I will reserve any comment on Senator Bacik's proposal about the prayer until the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, of which I am a member. However, it strikes me as sadly opportunistic for people to be connecting legitimate criticism of the church with an attack on the tradition of Christian prayer. When discussions have taken place in the past in respect of the broadcasting of the Angelus on RTE, I have often noted the generosity of members of the Church of Ireland community who made sure it was understood that they did not believe the Angelus to be in any way sectarian. That is the type of generosity for which we must strive when discussing some of the cherished traditions we have in this country.

I echo the calls that have been made for a debate on the Cloyne report. It is vital that this debate should take place before the House rises for the summer recess on Wednesday next. The House is due to sit on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next. If necessary, it should sit on Thursday of next week in order that we might debate the Cloyne report. We cannot claim to take our work seriously if we do not ensure that such a debate forms part of our business prior to the recess. A debate on the Cloyne report is all the more urgent in light of what the Taoiseach said yesterday. I have some reservations in respect of the Taoiseach's comments and I have placed these on the record elsewhere. Other people will want to reflect in a calm and measured way on the Taoiseach's speech and on the report that has given rise to justified rage and annoyance on the part of many people of good will regarding the failure to handle child sex abuse cases properly.

I take this opportunity to give credit where it is due. On occasion, I and others have commented on the lack of respect which the Executive, namely, the Government sometimes shows to the Oireachtas in the context of keeping Members informed. I was critical of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, in respect of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2011. However, I wish to highlight an example of good practice. I recently raised the issue of correspondence I received in respect of male and female patients being cared for together in hospital wards - a matter which gave rise to difficulties for some of the individuals concerned - in the presence of the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, in the context of a debate on health care. The Minister of State took the trouble to contact the chief executive of Beaumont Hospital and put the issue to him. She obtained clarification which indicated that male and female patients are cared for together in critical care areas and accident and emergency departments. A rationale for this was put forward by the hospital which I accept but which I still see as being somewhat problematic. However, the hospital indicated that it otherwise ensures that male and female patients are cared for separately.

I was satisfied with the response I received in respect of this matter. I was even more satisfied by the fact that a Minister of State went to the trouble of pursuing an issue of public interest that was raised in this House, to discover the actual position in respect of it and to have the courtesy and kindness to write a reply to a Member of the Oireachtas. Let us have more of that type of engagement between the Executive and the Legislature.