David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday was a superb day for Seanad Éireann. If anything vindicated its right to exist and its importance to democracy and political life in this country, yesterday was it. It was a superb triumph for our colleague, Senator Quinn, and I compliment him on that. He has been extraordinarily industrious. If one looks at the number of Bills he has produced, I simply do not know how he does it. He must have a back-up team somewhere. This really does justice to the House and justifies its existence.

I disagree with my friend, the leader of the Fianna Fáil group, Senator Darragh O'Brien, and commend the Labour Party Members. It took guts to stay away. I do not think anybody in Fianna Fáil would have done any more than that or would have broken the Whip. This is the realism of politics and it allowed that Bill to go through.

Being a politician, I would like to lay a bit of a claim to the triumph because I both took and gave advice. I asked Senator Quinn if he wanted support for the Bill. He said: "Yes, but would you ever keep your mouth shut because we are afraid the Government will talk it out", so I went to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and came back for the vote.

I suggested to Senator Quinn that we call a walk-through vote. That is part of the way we run it, but it is the Senator's triumph and we should all unanimously commend him on this.

This also questions the Cathaoirleach's position under Standing Orders. I do not mean this in a personal way or as a criticism of the way he chairs proceedings. The Cathaoirleach is elected as an independent representative to be neutral and I am not sure if this nonsense that he or she must always go with the Government is in Standing Orders, but it is not in the Constitution. I acknowledge that it follows precedent, and the Cathaoirleach was perfectly correct in what he did, but that is one of the reforms that needs to come in. Perhaps if we provide for a secret ballot for the Chair whereby he or she is instructed to vote on the issue and not to automatically to go with the Government, that would be an enhancement of our democracy.

I refer to the question of the Garda Commissioner. I do not call for heads but I am sorry to say he has to go. There is no doubt in my mind about that. The latest revelations involve claims of sexual harassment and this woman-----