David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Something wonderful that I have never witnessed in my 25 years in Seanad Éireann has happened, in that Members from the Government side, which is unusual, from Fianna Fáil, from all of the parties and individuals have presented legislation this session. The Government should co-operate with the House more. During the debate on the important legislation produced by Senator Burke, a Government Member, concerning the insurance of the medical profession, it was perfectly clear that the Government could have accepted and amended the Bill. I made this point clearly during the discussion. The Minister in charge of the matter was present, but he did not do it. Many people discussed the issue during the following days and wondered why the Government did not accept Bills that could be amended. I have been present for one Bill that saw more than 200 Government amendments. If the Government can amend its Bills, why can we not be provided with the same facility?

I am doing what I can. We held a good and important debate on fluoride, a matter of national interest, irrespective of one's position. The debate was ignored by everyone. I noticed that an article on the subject in Hot Press neglected the Seanad completely. I wrote a fairly mild letter that I am glad to tell the House was the magazine's letter of the month, although I will not take any great pride in that. The editor wrote a note in which he agreed that the Seanad had not been given the credit and that the attempts to abolish it were a mistake.