Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Jim Walsh's call for a debate on abortion and the Eighth Amendment and the lack of balance by the national broadcaster. We should have a balanced debate on what is a very emotive issue. There are contrary views to that of mine and Senator Walsh and many others on all sides of this House but we should have that debate. There is, in my opinion, a certain amount of conditioning going on and it is conditioning in one way, so far as I can see. It is trying to cleanse the whole process of what abortion is about, that is, the ending of an unborn child's life. I call on the Leader to arrange for that debate.

I received a text from somebody who visited Collins Barracks, the National Museum, yesterday. In the text the individual said he enjoyed the visit. At the end of the visit he bought portraits of six of the signatories of the Proclamation but it had run out of portraits of James Connolly. To illustrate the balanced approach of this individual, he also bought a portrait of Michael Collins and of James Larkin. However, when he attempted to purchase a portrait of Éamon de Valera he was told, "Oh, we don't do that". Why is the National Museum not printing a portrait of one of the main figures of the Rising?