Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach, the Leader of the House and my colleagues on the Vótáil 100 committee Senators McFadden, Conway-Walsh, Higgins and Grace O'Sullivan, who stood in for Deputy Catherine Martin, for all the work that went into making this morning's event such a success. I also thank the other colleagues who dropped in to observe Díospóireacht na nÓg, whereby 16 transition year students from all across the island, North and South, took part in a public speaking competition as part of the celebration of the centenary of women's suffrage in Ireland. The 15 year olds and 16 year olds who spoke today showed us a thing or two about how to construct an excellent speech and how to speak in a compelling way, with passion and rational argument, and in a well-informed and articulate manner. I congratulate all those involved and the Oireachtas staff who also made it such a success.

Since we were last in this Chamber, there have been dreadful developments in Syria, with a chemical attack perpetrated by the Syrian Government on its own people. I ask the Leader if we can make another attempt at constructing a cross-party motion. It is unfortunate that we could not do it on the previous occasion but the need for concerted action to seek a resolution to the horrific ongoing conflict is even more pressing. I commend the Irish Government, the response of which - both to the chemical attacks leading to the appalling deaths of civilians and to the attacks by the US, France and the UK - has been measured. It has expressed understanding of, rather than given support to, the counter-action led by the US and there has been an emphasis on urging all sides to get back to the negotiating table, particularly next week when the EU-UN conference on Syria will take place in Brussels. We need to support the Government and recognise that, while all of us would wish to see multilateral UN-sanctioned action against the Syrian Government, Russia has vetoed 12 UN motions on Syria in recent years. That is a major reason the conflict has continued for so long.

I request a debate on press freedom in light of the ongoing action in the High Court, particularly the application by the ODCE which has now been adjourned. It raises serious concerns about alleged data breaches in respect of journalists and about the need to ensure that journalists have the right to protect their sources because, in a democracy, freedom of the press is a vitally important principle. We should all be concerned at any attempt to erode that.

Does the Leader know when it is proposed to conclude the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in the Dáil? We have concluded it in the Seanad. A report published by Trinity College academics, Professor Joe Barry and Dr. Ann Hope, put the impact of serious and heavy drinking on others at some €873 million per year. The clearly articulated findings, about the substantial impact heavy drinking has on the family and friends of drinkers, are groundbreaking. This is like the reports we saw on the environmental impact of tobacco and cigarette smoking on others in the vicinity of smokers, as well as the health impact to the smoker, and it deserves to read by all of us.