David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That had a slightly humane touch to it in that it did not remove this important grant to the most vulnerable people in our society. The previous Government, of which Senator MacSharry was not a member and as such is not culpable in this regard, abolished the combat poverty agency and reduced the status of the equality authority. I recall previously saying in this House that we need a group like the equality authority or human rights commission to equality proof all our legislation. In my view, all legislation should be proofed by professional bodies established by the Oireachtas to ensure they comply with equality legislation and national and international human rights provisions.

This is a shocking business. This is two attacks on the people in one day. As a result of accumulated taxes, people with mobility difficulties will have a significant amount of their income withdrawn. It is now also proposed that they and everybody else will have to pay for a television licence whether or not they have a television. How absurd? There are people in remote areas of this country who neither have a television nor a computer. Is there any sense of equity or justice? These are the meanest and cruelest cuts of all. I call on the Leader to request the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, come to the House to explain, as indicated by him yesterday, the reason he does not intend to introduce a privacy Bill. There are two privacy Bills on the Seanad Order Paper. Every politician, including those who will vote against it, believes privacy legislation is necessary. It has been proven that it is necessary. The Leveson inquiry to which I made a submission showed this is necessary. It implicated the media in this country in what was being done.

On climate change, I salute Senator Bacik for placing a climate change Bill before this House. Such a Bill was approved by all parties in the appropriate committee of the Oireachtas. I understand Senator Bacik had assistance from Friends of the Earth in the preparation of her Bill. That organisation is totally against the Government's Bill. It believes this Bill is inadequate. It has stated that the Government rather than grasping the nettle is watering and putting manure on it. We need a robust debate on that issue in this House. I am sure Senator Bacik will make an excellent and trenchant contribution to that debate.