Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for outlining the business. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, namely that No. 19 be taken before No. 1. Many colleagues across the House have discussed this. No one could agree that it is right or proper that a Government agency, Tusla, has cut funding for Rape Crisis Network Ireland and is seeking to introduce quite stringent changes regarding how rape crisis centres operate. According to what the rape crisis centres and Rape Crisis Network Ireland are saying, the agency is seeking to change the manner in which they do their job. All of us agree that the statistics are shocking. One in five girls and one in six boys in Ireland has been a victim of sexual abuse. In a modern society and republic where we care about our citizens, particularly the most vulnerable and those who have suffered from sexual abuse — the statistics do not lie — it is just wrong for a Government to stand over a decision to cut the funding of Rape Crisis Network Ireland. My motion, which I have signed on behalf of my group, along with colleagues in the Independent benches, whom I thank in this regard, will allow the Seanad to state it does not agree with the cut in funding for Rape Crisis Network Ireland. We should speak with one voice on this. I ask the Leader to amend the Order of Business to have No. 19 taken before No. 1 and accept the motion. I will be pushing this to a vote. I ask the Leader to assert the independence of the Seanad as a democratically elected arm of the Oireachtas.