Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate my colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, on what was a triumph for the Seanad yesterday evening. Sinn Féin colleagues were eager to remind the correspondent from The Irish Times of my absence from the Chamber. I was addressing a school in Bettystown and I was happy to be obliged by one of my Government colleagues with a pair, which is more than my Sinn Féin colleagues managed to do when I tabled a motion on the need to put high-voltage lines underground.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business: that we take No. 8 before No. 1. This is First Stage of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) (Amendment) Bill 2014, which provides for a requirement that high-voltage electricity transmission cables are placed underground where physically possible and makes certain other changes. I ask if the Leader can make time for a debate in early course. We have not had enough debate in the Chamber on issues relating to pylons, on our energy strategy and on the concerns of tens of thousands of people about massive turbines being erected in many parts of the country with a view to supplying cheap energy to Britain but without the public interest first and foremost.

I agree with Senator Bacik on the European Parliament recommendation on the need to criminalise purchasers of sexual services in the Honeyball report. When I first heard about the report I thought it referred to a character in a James Bond movie, but it appears to be a substantial proposal. I compliment Senators Bacik and Zappone on their work on the issue at the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. I took the lead in the previous Seanad by introducing amendments and Private Members' motions calling for legislation to bring us in line with the Nordic policy of criminalising the user. It is an important development and we should debate it in early course.