David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Given that this is the first occasion on which the House has met since the Leveson inquiry published its report and in view of the fact that certain personnel who work on Irish editions of English newspapers indicated to the inquiry that similar practices existed here, will the Leader indicate whether the House is likely to discuss some of these matters?

At this time of the year, we always receive a large number of budget submissions. I have never previously experienced anything like the number of submissions being made or briefing sessions being held as have been made and held this year. This shows the great concern among people. We are now going to be presented with a property tax, a matter to which the Deputy Leader referred. I find it extraordinary that anybody in the Labour Party would propose this, particularly as it is going to make no money. It is a completely cosmetic exercise. Earlier today I heard someone state on radio that it would make no difference as to whether the tax is ¤300 or ¤5,000 because they did not have the money to pay.

We are going backwards in time. Last week I referred to evictions and soup kitchens. James Fintan Lalor may as well have never existed because we are punishing people for improving their properties. Citizens are not even safe when they are dead. It used to be stated that death and taxes are the only certainties but now one is not even secure in one's grave because the grave-robbers will be after one in respect of payments that have been deferred. This is absolutely obscene. Why is this happening? It is because the Finance Ministers of France and Germany, whose banks we bailed out - we did not have to do so but we did - by stupidly paying the debts they had ignorantly and foolishly run up by pouring money into this country, have said "No, no, no". They are being aided and abetted in this regard by the appropriately named Herr Juncker. We are due to pay ¤3.5 billion to the Central Bank early next year and then this money will be technically destroyed. It will be as if it never existed. Why not cease making such payments and staunch the flow of moneys out of the Exchequer? While we are at it, what is the point in celebrating the 1916 Rising? We are obviously travelling backwards rather than forwards. Let us celebrate 1816 and hedge schools, famine, evictions, etc.

I would welcome the opportunity to debate abortion in the House. It is a pity people come to the House for the Order of Business each day for no other reason other than to raise the issue of abortion in a controversial manner. I would welcome the opportunity to place on the record the facts regarding the obscene situation relating to women with anencephalic pregnancies. In such pregnancies, the foetuses have absolutely no chance of surviving