David Norris (Independent)

Like my colleagues I am very glad to be back and I look forward to our serious work. I was struck by the analytical way in which Senator Zappone approached what is perhaps a problematic area, namely, the amalgamation of certain organisations which have done very good service. She may well have support from the Government side because I remember these issues were raised when the Equality Authority was downgraded in financial terms, the Combat Poverty Agency was abolished and the Irish Human Rights Commission suffered severe cuts. Both parties in the current Government were very good on those debates. She may well find, particularly because of the considered way in which she analysed the situation, that there will be a sympathetic ear in Government.

There are economic issues and it is important to start on a positive and constructive note. I was very glad to hear the Minister say that this year there will be no cutting off of gas or electricity because people cannot pay. That is a basic standard. It happened last year and I was ashamed it was allowed to happen. Thank God it will not be allowed to happen this year. Other things are not so positive.

I was very sorry to see that four Irish Travellers were charged - they have not been convicted and are before the courts at the moment - with slavery in an island next door where I thought slavery had been abolished as a result of the work of William Wilberforce. They are only in this situation because there has been in a change introduced in the British Coroners and Justice Act 2009, whereby people can face 14 years' imprisonment for holding someone in slavery or servitude with similar lengthy sentences for forced labour. Unfortunately, I understand that no such change has ever been made in Irish law. I was waiting for a case to occur. One of today's newspapers reports that this has occurred, I believe in a suburb of Dublin in a fast food shop. On that basis I ask the Leader to find out-----