Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Kelleher raised the issue of the ongoing deprivation of rights of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, LGBT, community in Tanzania. All of us in this House would join Senator Kelleher in condemning the activities of the governor of Dar es Salaam in effectively rounding up members of the LGBT community and incarcerating them. The Government must do more than write to the Tanzanian Government outlining our concerns. In the past we have had a good relationship with Tanzania and supported it. There is now a need to ensure that the Tanzanian Government understands that we are serious about this and attributing the activities to the personal view of the governor is unacceptable. A 17 person task force rounding up members of the LGBT community is more than a personal view. We must condemn it and work to ensure that members of the LGBT community receive full and just treatment in Tanzania.

Senator Devine raised the issue of the all-out strike by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO. I certainly hope it will not go out on strike. The Minister for Health will be in the House tomorrow and I am sure we can have that discussion then. I have not seen or read the report Out of Silence but it is one that we might debate in the future.

I join with Senator Coghlan in commending the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, on his legislation for the licensing of rickshaws.