Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the call for people to come out in large numbers on Saturday to vote "Yes" in the referendum. It is responsible to make such a call. I have seen a number of e-mails and Twitter messages calling on people to vote "No" in order to settle scores with the Government on other issues.

It is irresponsible of people to look for a "No" vote for reasons which are not in any way connected to the referendum. I would ask people to act in a logical way by voting "Yes" because it is in children's best interests that we vote "Yes".

On an issue related to children, I wish to refer to an award of ¤11 million in a medical negligence case made in the High Court yesterday. I have raised the issue of the making of phased payments in cases previously and the urgent need to introduce periodic payments in respect of the settlement of claims such as this one. In this case ¤2 million was awarded in 2009 and the final determination was to be made at a later date. There is no procedure in the courts for the making of periodic payments. I have raised the Quirke report here previously and this issue seems to have been put on the long finger. I ask the Leader to ensure this matter be brought to a head and dealt with in a logical way and that legislation to deal with it would introduce it at a very early date. All such cases take seven to eight years before they come to conclusion. There is uncertainty and people are left in limbo for a long period when it is the very time they need help and support. I ask that legislation to deal with this matter be brought forward at any early date. It is like the children's rights referendum in that we have been talking about it for a long number of years. It is time to bring it to a head and deal with it at the earliest possible date. I ask the Leader to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality and that legislation be brought forward as soon as possible.