David Norris (Independent)

I am asking for a reasoned debate where people's experience is allowed to be placed on the record without the kind of bullying and colonisation of language that has occurred so lamentably previously. There is a great difference between what has been allowed already under our Constitution and the taking by force of a woman who is seven months pregnant and forcibly aborting the child in her womb. It is appalling, it is a gross violation and I stand against it.

I look forward to a reasoned debate, and I hope it will be so. We may need to have a session somewhere else, in the audiovisual room or some other place - we did this when discussing AIDS - in order that we avoid the type of bitterness that goes on. I think that would be very useful. We have good debates in this House. We have a proud record, and as we speak, a Bill from this House initiated by Senator Feargal Quinn, which is very important is going through the other House. Today the newspapers are full of Dr. Crown's intervention where children will be protected from smoking. The other House is doing a lot of things that people feel are damaging them. Seanad Éireann is promoting the interests of decent ordinary people. I think we need to send this message out.

With regard to cancer, I was very interested in the submissions by Senator Crown and his briefing where he made the point that diesel fumes are incredibly toxic. I walked down O'Connell Street today and I could hardly breathe because of the gush of diesel fumes from buses, public service vehicles, especially the tourist buses. The last time I asked about this, I was told these buses are not subject to any kind of vehicle test. They should be. Will the Leader bring this to the Minister's attention with a view to ensuring the buses that create this level of pollution and other vehicles such as large lorries should be subject to a test in order that they do not poison our populace?