Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the proposition which was put before the committee at the 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council.The proposition was on the protection of the family and the contribution of the family to the realisation of the right to an adequate standard of living for its members, particularly through its role in poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development. "Family" was not defined, it just says protection of the family. Happily that motion was supported by a majority of the 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council with 29 countries voting in favour, 14 against and four abstaining. Sadly, Ireland was one of the countries which voted against it.

There is a need for some accountability of people who represent Ireland abroad on these issues. They should be in some way accountable to Parliament for decisions and positions they take. Often they are taken from the point of view of self-interest in arrangements within the organisation as part of the cut and thrust which we often see in politics. People look to chair meetings and deliberations. It is unacceptable that we would put ourselves in such a position. Will the Leader arrange to have the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade come to the House at an early stage to explain to the people as well as the Seanad why Ireland would consider voting against a family motion which is clearly one that would seem to be representative of the views of everyone, regardless of what way they voted in the recent referendum.

I will very briefly refer to the comments made by our colleague, Senator Rónán Mullen, on Planned Parenthood. This morning I forwarded to each Member of the House a video clip illustrating the points he was making. I will not make any comment on it other than to say that I urge Members to look at it and come to their own conclusions. In particular, I ask those who have a different disposition to me and may be pro-abortion to look at it because it raises serious questions about the manner in which they carry out the abortion but also the way they then take body parts and sell them. Unfortunately, if Members do not look at it-----