David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The article was full of intellectual gymnastics and turned the victim into the perpetrator. It contained all of the usual kind of rubbish that comes out of people who have any connection at all with or are contaminated, should I say, by the Iona Institute.

I must say the following with seriousness. Despite all of this bland blather about respectful debate, some of the most hurtful and insensitive remarks - both inside and outside of the House and the amendments tabled by Senator Mullen and some of his colleagues - have wounded, upset and hurt me more than I can say. I do not accept this vicious attempt to restrict debate.

I welcome the Cathaoirleach back from Japan and hope that he had a wonderful time. I wish the same to all of the other Members of this House who travelled. Can the Deputy Leader find out how the trip was composed? I know something about the Japanese. I was invited once, as a Member of the Seanad, and then they found out that it was the Lower House in Japan that had issued the invitation and they would not touch a Senator with a barge pole because it had to be absolutely formal. I said to the ambassador that it was just as well it went that way because if we had snubbed the Japanese politicians they would probably all have had to commit hara-kiri. We are much more relaxed about this sort of thing. I understand that despite the invitation being issued directly to the House, a Member of the Lower House was foisted on the group by the Labour Party. How did that happen? Did the Japanese know about that? It must have been a considerable source of embarrassment.