David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Like many here and outside the House, I was not surprised but was saddened to learn of the death of the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez. He was a remarkable man who was on the side of the people and was the victim of an attempted coup sponsored by the CIA which was dramatically recorded with great courage by an Irish television crew, subsequently shown as a documentary called "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". The House might also note the death of Mrs. Gladys Ryan, who was one of the first people to sue on foot of the Constitution in the fluoride case that we have discussed.

I say to our distinguished guest, Professor Huxley, that I am sure he will be concerned, as a democrat, about the attack on democracy by the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, who intends to abolish the House if he can manage it. The House represents one of the two principal branches of democracy in the Oireachtas. To lop it off without any proper discussion and without referring to the Conventional Convention, despite the fact that it is the most serious constitutional change in my lifetime, demonstrates a contempt for democracy that is quite astonishing. I point to the precedent of Robert Mugabe, who, immediately on seizing power in Zimbabwe, abolished the senate there. Even today, we find we are being prevented deliberately from exercising our proper function in adequately discussing legislation in circumstances in which the property tax Bill, an extremely controversial measure, will be guillotined, as it was in the other House. I read in today's paper that George Washington suggested the upper house in America was the saucer into which legislation could be poured to be cooled. Yet again, the Government vitiates this process.

A very interesting Bill will be presented this evening during Private Members' time. I have read it and find a great deal to agree with in it. I am surprised our remuneration is to be set at ¤24,000, which seems a little low, frankly, unless one has a very good second occupation, which I do not. I notice that an academic writing in The Irish Times today on the Bill wants us at ¤10,000, which is about half the minimum wage. He also wants all of our secretarial support removed. I wonder how out of touch academic life is. It was pretty out of touch when I was at Trinity College Dublin, but it seems to have gone right off the Richter scale. This kind of solo run is great. While there are another one or two of these Bills coming from the other side, the House must unite. If we do not get ourselves singing from the same hymn sheet and are not prepared to make our case, we will be done in. The Distinguished Visitors' Gallery is also the press gallery, but who is there? Professor Huxley reigns in solitary glory without a single member of the press. How can the Irish people know about these proceedings? I predict confidently that unless somebody has heard these remarks, there will be no one, as usual, to record what is said in tonight's debate.