Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is difficult to follow that. It is a relief on this side of the House to hear someone from the other side commend some aspect of our water supply. I agree with Senator White on the water fluoridation issue. There have been many debates on it in the House with some heated exchanges. I thank her for putting so many of the factual aspects of fluoridation on the record.

I welcome yesterday’s announcement of the new water charges package from the Government. It is welcome that we are seeing affordability as a key principle in the new measures with a much fairer, simpler and more straightforward way to charge people, along with delays in the charges taking effect. Most people will welcome the new measures. It also shows the responsiveness on the part of the Government in responding to the key concerns raised by so many around the country.

I commend Senators Power, van Turnhout and Healy Eames on introducing a Private Members’ Bill on adoption tracing last night which passed Second Stage and received unanimous support across the House. It is a good day for the Seanad when another Private Members’ Bill gets the Government’s assent in this way. We will all seek to work to ensure it progresses.

I commend Women’s Aid which is holding a ceremony today to remind us how many women have been murdered by partners and ex-partners. It has been 78 women since 1996 and is a wake-up call.

Will the Leader check when Committee Stage of the Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2012, another Private Members’ Bill which I introduced in this House and which received Government assent, will be taken? I hope it will be before Christmas as it is an important Bill seeking to amend section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and end discrimination against teachers in particular on grounds of sexuality, family or marital status. It was referred to committee in April but we have been some months waiting for the Government’s amendments. I am pursuing this matter myself but will the Leader pursue it too?