Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all colleagues who contributed to the special debate on Thursday to mark the centenary of women's suffrage and note the contribution of the Vótáil 100 programme in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Now that the exhibition has been taken down from the Seanad anteroom I again thank all those who worked so hard to make the Vótáil 100 programme such a success, including you, a Chathaoirligh, and the Ceann Comhairle who provided the resources necessary for the programme. I refer in particular to the great work done by the communications unit under Derek Dignam, Liam O'Brien and others who worked so hard all through the year on the programme. It was a model in terms of collaboration between the Houses of the Oireachtas and the other national cultural institutions, notably the National Museum, the National Gallery and the National Library. We are still getting so many requests from around the country for the Vótáil 100 badges and to tell them more about the programme of events that we ran. I thank everyone involved, in particular my colleagues in this House and in the other House who were on the committee with me, including Senators McFadden, Conway-Walsh and Higgins. I just wanted to note that again.

I echo Senator Clifford-Lee's words on the need for a debate on the very sad incident of concealed pregnancy and concealed birth highlighted in a recent case. Tragically, it is something that happens from time to time. As Senator Clifford-Lee said, it has echoes of the past. In particular for those of us of a certain age there are echoes of the tragic Ann Lovett case. I also echo Senator Clifford-Lee's words about the need for more research. I am familiar with the work done by my colleague, Professor Joan Lalor, in Trinity College and Sylvia Murphy Tighe, but there is very little research beyond what they have done on the incidence of concealed pregnancy and birth. It requires significant resources to do such research and it would be well worth having a debate and putting it to the Minister for Health that we need to hear more and to learn more about the incidence of concealed pregnancy and birth and the causal factors and especially how we can prevent it happening, and reach out to the women and girls involved.

I also ask the Leader for a debate in the new year on Brexit. As others said, we are seeing a period of brinksmanship. The hope of a managed withdrawal seems to be receding. For many of us, the need for a second referendum, which one would hope would produce a different result, becomes much more pressing with every new day and every new incidence of chaos in the British Government, and among the MPs in Westminster. I know we have had a number of debates on Brexit but we it would be worth getting an update early in the new year when we return to hear what are the plans are here. Senator Craughwell has asked what are the contingency plans in the appalling event of a no-deal Brexit.

I wish all well for Christmas and the new year.