David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It does not matter. We should be discussing it because these are very serious appointments. The Equality Commission was sabotaged by the previous Government with the able assistance of some of the people who are now being reappointed, including the gay one. We have an excellent new commissioner, Ms Emily Logan. We certainly should be discussing the matter. I look forward to taking up the Acting Leader's assertion that we will discuss it when it comes back. I certainly will not sit quietly if we are expected to take it without any discussion. We ought also to ask them to include, as the other side agreed with me when discussing this matter five or ten years ago, a provision whereby the Equality Commission is required to human-rights-proof or equality-proof Government legislation. That should be part of its remit.

With regard to the sexual offences Bill and this rubbish about Turn off the Red Light, which is being discussed in Northern Ireland, it is a very populist initiative, a good vote-getter and something the public like, but it does not reflect reality. A survey was conducted by Queen's University, Belfast, in advance of the discussion on prostitution and on criminalising the purchaser. The latter is a mad idea because one does not criminalise a sale, so that it perfectly legal to sell something but not legal to buy it. The university carried out a survey comprising 181 sex workers or prostitutes. Less than 1% said they were doing such work in an involuntary fashion. Less than 1% were doing that work involuntarily and 98% disagreed with its being criminalised. That is 98% of the people - mainly women - at the coalface. However, 80% of the public agreed, and that is why the initiative is so popular with colleagues who do not bother to think the issues out. This is absolutely ridiculous. Prostitution has never been got rid of - it is a permanent fact. We are only driving it underground and causing distress and danger to the people working in the area.

Finally, I will comment on Irish Water.

It is extraordinary that the company is talking about bonuses for a rotten worker. The company has 2,000 extra passenger workers, many of them carried over from the previous situation, and a whole load of people who are getting over €100,000. They are going to get their bonuses automatically. Here we are in Seanad Éireann getting €60,000 and complaining about it. People who are parachuted into the Seanad by the Taoiseach without as much as an election are producing legislation seeking to halve the income we get. When will we learn?