Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I would like to join those who congratulated the Leader on his comments on "Morning Ireland" today but I will not do so. If the Leader cannot answer Cathal Mac Coille's straight question by stating where he believes the Taoiseach is wrong, he is not showing the independence of mind and approach which is the only basis on which the Seanad can recommend itself to the public.

Senator Norris got to the core of the issue when he pointed out it was on those occasions when the Seanad scrutinised legislation effectively that it proved its role, its value and its importance. Senator Quinn introduced the Construction Contracts Bill in recent times. In the previous Seanad I tried to play a role on the issue of civil partnership albeit on a different side to Senator Norris. I and others led a lonely battle to try to secure amendments to the ill-fated referendum on Oireachtas committees of inquiry. We were not helped in these matters by a Government approach that tried to impose the guillotine on the very work the Seanad was supposed to be doing.

Independent Senators, therefore, have given leadership but it is time the parties followed by showing themselves to be independent-minded and effective scrutineers of legislation. Our capacity to scrutinise legislation at length and effectively that will prove our case to the public, not any of the most recent reforms, as welcome as they are given they involve more contact with the public and so on .

The Leader and the Government could redeem themselves by giving us some answers to the important issues raised by Dr. Burke, the consultant obstetrician in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. It is a serious matter that 20% of midwives could be lost. We have prided ourselves, as Senator O'Donovan said, on having the lowest maternal mortality rate in the world but we need to seriously examine the issue of morbidity, sickness and so on and we cannot compromise the quality of care given to women in pregnancy. As Dr. Burke said, the provision of safe maternity services is among the most fundamental duties of government because having babies is the core business of human beings. His most serious comments are welcome and they deserve a timely response from the Government.