Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in calling for the Seanad Chamber to be used by the Joint Committee on Health and Children during its discussion of the forthcoming legislation on abortion. In agreeing with what Senator Mullen has said, we should not allow the fact that we are not scheduled to sit until the middle of January to prevent us from doing so. If a meeting needs to be held we should hold it, including today if necessary.

I wish the Cathaoirleach, the Clerk and the Clerk Assistant, the Leader, the leaders of all the groups and the Whips - especially the Government Chief Whip and his deputy Whip - a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Amnesia is a debilitating disease but political amnesia is the worst of all. A number of Members on the other side of the House should look into their own souls before commenting publicly on what public interest directors of banks or former Government Members did in the past.