James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with some of what Senator Byrne said. However, while Members of the House must be temperate in the issues they raise, the decision on what to cover is a matter for the media. The media have a poor record. They pick the ludicrous and ridiculous contributions made in the Seanad and report on them. There is no doubt that it makes something of a laughing stock of the House.

Last evening was the first anniversary of the 50 day conflict last year in Gaza in which 504 children were murdered by the Israeli Defence Forces. There is a very thought-provoking installation at the Ha'penny Bridge and I recommend that people go to look at it. All of the names of the children killed in that conflict are recorded on white ribbons which are flying from the Ha'penny Bridge.

Senator Mooney raised Amnesty International and the poll that showed 81% of people were in favour of a more liberal approach to abortion. Polls can often reflect the opinions of those for whom they are written. I am not sure that it is up to 81%, but I certainly believe the country has moved on a great deal since the referendum in 1983. Since 1980, almost 163,000 women have made that difficult trip to England. It is high time we had a referendum on the eighth amendment and leave it up to the people. Yes, it is a divisive societal issue, as one can see from the various protests held in Dublin last weekend, but we have moved on as a society and the issue should be put to the people in a referendum again. Ten women per week still have to travel to England. The outsourcing of the problem to another jurisdiction is not the proper way to deal with it, so we should grasp that nettle now.

I appeal to the Labour Party to push for that referendum to be held. It is Labour Party policy. I also ask the major parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, to face up to it. Fianna Fáil has been ducking and diving on this issue and has not committed to a referendum. If the referendum is not to take place during the lifetime of this Government, the parties that will lead the next Government should commit to holding the referendum, regardless of what they think about the issue. It is only right, proper and fair to give the Irish people, after more than 33 years, the right to a say on this issue.