Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join Senators in complimenting my colleague, Senator Mary White, who has championed the cause of women very effectively in this House. I agree with her fully regarding the need for greater participation by women in different sectors of society, particularly enterprise.

I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments regarding the recess. It is imperative that we do not adjourn sine die. In fact, I would suggest that we return the week before the Dáil resumes to facilitate debate on a range of issues, particularly in the run-up to the referendum on the abolition of this House. We should do so not in our own interests but in the interests of democracy in this State.

Reference was made to the views of people who were described as being on the far right. All I can say in response is that if it considered "far right" to seek to defend human rights, including the right to life, and protect the most vulnerable, then it says a lot about the mindset of those making that accusation.

I join Senator Sean Barrett in paying compliment to the Clerk of the Dáil, Mr. Kieran Coughlan, with whom I served on the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission for several years during the last Seanad. I found him to be an absolute gentleman with a very sound guiding hand on the workings of the Oireachtas.

Will the Leader inquire whether information that was in the hands of the Irish Family Planning Association regarding dangerous practices at Marie Stopes clinics was brought to the attention of the Minister for Health and the Health Service Executive and, if so, what was been done in response? While every woman does not die during an abortion, many are seriously afflicted subsequently by anguish and guilt. The truncation of yesterday's debate meant that-----