Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I endorse all of what Senator Eamonn Coghlan said on bullying. I commend the many Members who have raised this issue for several months. I also agree with Senators MacSharry, Ó Murchú and Mullen on the dangerous and illegal activities carried out by some family planning clinics in this State. As Senator Ó Murchú stated, it is malpractice and, as Senators MacSharry and Mullen said, dangerous. The onus is on us to make laws and ensure they are upheld. I condemn in the strongest possible manner the activities carried out by these family planning clinics. I commend the Irish Independent and its investigative journalist for carrying this story.

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, to the House to discuss the future of the Reserve Defence Force? A strong rumour is circulating that he intends to disband this worthy and voluntary part of our Defence Forces. I want the Minister to outline to the House his plans for the future of this volunteer force and state clearly it is the Government?s intention to keep it active. We have a farcical situation where the Army barracks in Cavan was closed at the end of last March and handed over to the local vocational education committee at the beginning of September, which I welcome. Now, the Minister for Defence has told the Reserve Defence Force in Cavan that it should write to the VEC to see if it can accommodate it. This is ridiculous and farcical. Will the Leader invite the Minister to the House as a matter of urgency to debate this issue?