David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are all aware of the remarkable work done by the Irish Seal Sanctuary, which has been monitoring the deaths of seals during the past 12 months. Previously, no such records were kept, and we are indebted to the organisation for monitoring this situation. Last spring on Tramore beach a considerable number of seals were found suffering from gunshot wounds. The animals were investigated by local veterinary surgeons and the seals had to be euthanised on what is actually a Blue Flag beach. It is both remarkable and sad. One of the seals had its flippers tied together and several others were decapitated. These animals are protected, as are all marine mammals, under Irish and European Law. The Irish Seal Sanctuary wrote to several Ministers - namely, Deputy Coveney, Deputy Deenihan and Deputy Hogan, and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd - but the net result was that the letter was passed around from Department to Department and absolutely nothing was done. I understand that veterinary surgeons in Scotland and in Cornwall in England have taken an interest in this and we may well be not only reported to the European Commission but brought before the European Court of Justice.

It would be helpful if the Leader would communicate this situation to the Minister he deems responsible for this area.

I support the call for an informed debate on the Magdalen laundries report. We rushed to congratulate the authors of this report but now we are beginning to see a more complex picture. It is regrettable that people are attempting to displace the blame. Attempts are also being made to divide the former inmates of these institutions. That is particularly nasty. We hear about infanticide and single mothers. All of these women were placed in a terrible situation by their society. We also hear about families. I reject the idea that families should be blamed. If we listen to their evidence, parents were on many occasions approached by priests and nuns who said they would arrange for an education to be provided. They received no education. They were enslaved and there is a duty on all of us in Parliament to attempt to redress this wrong. It is not just a question of an apology. Laws were consciously broken and we need proper independent assessment and restitution.