Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join Senator Paschal Mooney in marking the Stena Line decision to close its Dún Laoghaire-Holyhead ferry link. I think all of us have memories of taking that boat from Dún Laoghaire to Holyhead. Certainly the growth of the cruise market in Dún Laoghaire has been very positive but it is none the less worth marking the end of an era in terms of that particular route.

I ask the Leader for a debate on EU developments in light of what appears to be an increased escalation of tension between Athens and the European Central Bank following the ECB decision announced last night after the meeting between Mario Draghi and the Greek Finance Minister on Greek bonds. This is a situation that is developing day by day and I would like if we could have a debate on what it means for the European Union and Ireland. As Senator Paschal Mooney has said, there are other developments in terms of the British referendum which would have a potential seismic change within the European Union. In the coming weeks it would be good to have the Minister with responsibility for European affairs come to the House to debate these and other issues around the development of the European Union.

I thank all the colleagues who attended the briefing I hosted yesterday with the Irish Penal Reform Trust on spent convictions. We heard some very eloquent testimonies from individuals whose criminal record has been a real difficulty, no matter how long in the past or how minor, because we still do not have spent convictions legislation in place in Ireland. The Bill passed through the Seanad. It was commenced in the Dáil and completed Committee Stage there but is awaiting Report Stage due to Government amendments being drafted to ensure it is compliant with the European Convention on Human Rights, following a decision in a UK Supreme Court case. I will certainly renew calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to ensure the Bill completes its passage through the Dáil without delay because there are many people in Ireland who are affected by this and who, due perhaps to very old and very minor convictions, are hampered in employment, education and travel prospects. This is a matter of real concern and I thank colleagues who attended the briefing.

I commend the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, GLEN, and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who yesterday launched a new anti-bullying resource for primary schools. Given the events of recent weeks at Coláiste Eoin, which Senator David Norris and I raised, it is great to see a national resource being rolled out for primary schools to tackle homophobic bullying and bullying generally. It is an issue we have been speaking about this week in the House in the context of the Gender Recognition Bill. I am sure we will return to it when speaking on the Bill next week, but I just want to mark the launch of that document.

I wish to note that tomorrow is international day of zero tolerance against female genital mutilation, FGM. I spoke on this issue earlier this week in the House and noted that in Egypt we have seen the first ever conviction. For many women and girls worldwide this remains a serious abuse of human rights issues. I note the great work that organisations such as AkiDwA and the Irish Family Planning Association are carrying out in Ireland to tackle FGM.