David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Aideen Hayden's remarks on the Beit collection. I was astonished to learn that a Russian oligarch was able to buy a major painting off the wall for €500,000 without the board consulting anybody. We did not know this at the time the debate took place in the Seanad. The fact that individuals and corporations have decided to stump up a fair amount of money shows what might have happened had they not been asked and if the sale had been conducted secretly.

I support my colleague, the Leader of the Fianna Fáil group, who raised the issue of pancreatic cancer. I have had a transplant. Pancreatic cancer is almost universally fatal and it seems extraordinary that we are in a situation where there is such a gap. If the service is to be transferred to St. Vincent's University Hospital, that is splendid. I was a patient there and cannot speak highly enough about the treatment I received in both the private and public services. Where there is no service available, people are left in despair and, as Senator Darragh O'Brien, said, the worst possible place to go is the outpatients department.

I refer to the fact that all doors in the Houses of the Oireachtas are locked. One needs to have a key or a swipe card to open a door. They are becoming more like a prison. Working in the Houses of the Oireachtas is becoming less and less satisfactory. I used to come every single day and campaigned to have the building open even at weekends. The offices are now closed at the weekend because I was the only one who came in. I feel less inclined to come as, just as in a factory, one must sign in. It is undignified. We are elected by the people and should be treated with respect - at least by the political administration, if not by the public. There was no consultation that I recall about the proposal to put locks on doors. If one is caught without a swipe card and there is a fire, what will happen? It is a complete and utter bureaucratic nightmare and a mess. The same group is taking money off the poor unfortunate ushers. What is going on? We talk about democracy and this is a democratic House. Let us have some democratic input and let freedom of access between our offices and this Chamber be guaranteed.