Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to address No. 79, motion 19, a non-Government motion on the Order Paper. For some reason, some of the names of Senators on the Government side, who agree with it, are not on it. That is due to an administrative error on our part and I apologise to colleagues who support it but are not listed. I hope all sides can support No. 79, motion 19. The Irish Wind Energy Association is using the words of former US President, John F. Kennedy, when he addressed the Houses of the Oireachtas in a television advertisement. It is extraordinary that any commercial entity can do that. The wind industry is particularly contentious at the moment and for it to use the words of anybody in these Houses or any special guest or foreign dignitary in these Houses in television advertising is completely undignified, wrong and an abuse.

The motion calls on the Irish Wind Energy Association to cease using those words and on the Seanad to take action to amend its Standing Orders to prevent this happening in the future. I do not know whether this issue has been addressed previously. Clearly, what is said in the Houses is on the record but it certainly never occurred to me that this record could then be used for any commercial purpose, so I hope the Government will find a way to support this or to indicate that action could be taken.

I second Senator Mooney's amendment to the Order of Business concerning the Corporate Manslaughter Bill 2011 but I propose another amendment to the Order of Business that we deal with this issue. Will the Irish Wind Energy Association stop winding people up by using the words of John F. Kennedy, which were made in a much more inspirational, important and sacred context than that of the Irish Wind Energy Association? I seek support for this motion to be taken but also ask the Irish Wind Energy Association to take heed of what has been said by Members of this House about the issue.