Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I commend and support the motion proposed by Senator Rónán Mullen and seconded by Senator Fergal Quinn. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy John Perry.

I am rather surprised the Government has not agreed with the motion which is very broad and fair. It would not cause any diplomatic difficulties for the Government in supporting it. The procedure in the House is that Government parties tend to table amendments to motions, even if a motion is generally acceptable. The motion has been very well prepared and I commend Senator Rónán Mullen, in particular. It is timely and appropriate.

The situation in India is frightening, with 914 girls aged six years and under for every 1,000 boys. Without intervention, a few more boys than girls would be born. A comparison of the number of girls who would have been born in normal circumstances shows that 600,000 Indian girls go missing every year. This is a frightening statistic. Every year in China 1 million children are abandoned. The one child policy has led to the creation of a major black market in stolen children, involving at least 70,000 children a year.

I attended a recent session of the Council of Europe held in Strasbourg as deputy leader of the delegation. Senators Deirdre Clune and Kathryn Reilly also attended. I was very pleased to support the motion placed before the assembly. It is only fair to point to its effect.