Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We had many contributions. Unfortunately, many Members who raised points have left the Chamber. Senators Ó Murchú, Bacik, Mooney, Cullinane, Mullins, Quinn, Brennan and Bradford, among others, spoke about global conflict and the conflict in the Middle East. Members had various comments and opinions on it. The emphasis should be on jaw-jaw rather than war-war. There is a need for statesmen to come forward to ensure we get a negotiated settlement in Syria and between Israel and Palestine. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Charles Flanagan, was here recently to discuss these issues. We can ask him to come to the House again, but given that we have an enormous amount of legislation to deal with over the coming weeks, we will take only a limited number of statements.

Senator Bacik raised the "RTE Investigates" report on prostitution. Although I did not see it, I believe it was very damning. The Senator invited people to an event in the AV room to discuss the matter. Senators Bacik, Norris and Heffernan welcomed the decision by the Northern Ireland courts on abortion. Senators Bradford and Mullen took a very different point of view on it. Many people will have comments and opinions on the abortion debate. The Taoiseach has indicated that we will have a debate on the issue during the first few months of the next Government, if he is elected, and that we will take cognisance of what is discussed at the proposed committee of citizens. There must be extensive discussions between all sides whereby we can reach the proper consensus to deal with this problem, which has plagued us for many years. Senator Bacik also spoke on the Criminal Law (Sex Offences) Bill 2015, which will come before us in the coming weeks and will, hopefully, be completed well before Christmas.

Senator van Turnhout raised the difficulties encountered by vulnerable people in accessing services. Although the Order Paper stated that we would take Committee and Remaining Stages of the International Protection Bill on Thursday, in view of the fact that there will be so many Report Stage amendments, it was optimistic to think that we could take Committee and Remaining Stages together. We will deal only with Committee Stage this week. There are 60 or 70 amendments tabled for Committee Stage, and we will have them on Report Stage also.

Senator Norris raised the Legal Services Regulation Bill.He mentioned amendment No. 42. I think we are over halfway through that Bill because a number of amendments were grouped at an early stage of the debate. We will see how we get on with it today and whether it can be finished. It is the wish of the Minister to come in after that Bill to take Second Stage of the International Protection Bill 2015, so it could be a late night. It may not be. We will have to see how these things go. As I have mentioned, a great deal of legislation is due to come into the House over the coming weeks. It looks like we will be meeting five days next week, with a possibility of five days the following week as well. I am just putting Members on notice that this could be the situation. I cannot understand why such a large number of Bills are coming in at the last minute. This has been happening year after year. At legislation meetings over the past couple of months, we have been begging draftspeople and others to have legislation to deal with in the House.