Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that we will have a debate today on the promissory notes. It is important that we would have an opportunity shortly after the deal was made last week to debate the issue and provide time for all Members to contribute. There was near-unanimous welcome for the deal that was done as it provides for cheaper financing of the debt over a longer period, which is welcome.

I also welcome the fact that this weekend we will have the second session of the Constitutional Convention. Colleagues on both sides will be represented at it. This weekend we will debate a number of references in the Constitution to the place of women in the home and the duties of mothers in the home. They are highly outdated provisions which are long overdue for replacement. A whole series of different expert group reports over the years have recommended their deletion and-or replacement with provisions that recognise in a gender-neutral way the important role of carers in the home and the community. It will be great to have an opportunity to debate it this weekend.

We will also debate measures to improve the participation of women in politics and in that context we have already passed legislation, which started in this House, to go about improving the number of women candidates in the next general election. That is very welcome also.

I note that yesterday there were leaks in the Evening Herald, which have been repeated in today?s newspapers, of the report into the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in Galway University Hospital last November. The reports indicate that the account given by Savita?s husband, Praveen, has been vindicated and that serious errors were made in the treatment of Savita Halappanavar and, in particular, that undue delays occurred in providing her with the treatment she needed to save her life. We will be able to debate the legislation the Government has promised, which is welcome, on foot of the expert group report. We have debated the expert group report but I hope we will have the debate on the legislation in early course and that we will be able to review some of the reports into the death of Savita at the time.