David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Since Senator Susan O'Keeffe mentioned remarkable moments and people, it is worth mentioning the young woman teacher at the scene of the tragic shooting in Connecticut who marshalled a significant group of her students into a cloakroom and remained behind to mislead the gunman. She saved their lives, which was heroic and for which I salute her. The thanks of our group have been passed on and I join my colleague, Senator Sean D. Barrett, in that regard.

I refer to the Social Welfare Bill. It is very disappointing that sections of it were effectively talked out. I hope we can have a disciplined debate. This is very important, even though it is obviously unlikely we will win a vote. On the other hand, we can do some of the work we are supposed to do. We never reached section 13, for example, which deals with the clawback of overpayments, fraud and so on, but it makes no distinction between these categories, which is a serious technical flaw in the Bill. That section was not reached in the Dáil before the debate on the Bill was guillotined. If it is not reached in the Seanad either, the Oireachtas will have completely failed. I ask, therefore, that we co-operate in order that we will reach those sections the other House failed to reach. That sounds like a beer advertisement.

Has the Cathaoirleach had any success in getting a reading from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on motion No. 12? If it would be possible to pass it in ten minutes or so today, that would be helpful.