David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad to see the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, once again ensconced with us. I wish to put on record my gratitude to the Leader of the House. On the Order of Business I made the point that I would be unhappy if the Bill went through all Stages today because I wished to table some amendments for Report Stage. I will indicate these shortly in order that the Minister of State can consider them, but before I do so I must comment on the splendid example of lateral thinking given to us by Senator Ó Clochartaigh. I looked through the amendments and noted that every one of them had been ruled out of order for various absurd reasons. However, the Senator managed quite brilliantly to bring in the substance of every amendment. I agree with every word he uttered.

This indicates the utter folly of excluding the Seanad from having anything whatsoever to do with any proposal that costs money, however small the amount. When the Government's devious and anti-democratic plan to hatchet out half the Oireachtas collapses, as I am convinced it will, I will look for another referendum, this time to increase the powers of the Seanad to allow us to be free from this kind of nonsense. Although I can accept there may be some possibility of sustaining an argument that there would be a charge if we established boards for this, that or the other, perhaps the Minister of State might explain why states should not become signatories to and ratify the International Convention on the Protection of Rights of all Migrant Workers and members of their families. What are the expenses involved in ratifying a convention? It is a load of complete nonsense and an insult to the dignity of this House.