David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Boyhan in his remarks about the Bethany Home. Many years ago the Anglican Archbishop spoke out clearly on the matter and asked for it to be taken into account. It is nothing other than religious discrimination that this has not happened. The issue would have been forgotten only for the great work done by Derek Leinster.

I completely disagree with my colleague, Senator Bacik. I do not how anybody can be pleased about the prospect of a lonely 65 year old man, coming from a deprived area of Dublin, being named and fined in court. It seems to me that this is rank and smug hypocrisy. I remember during the debate here, it flew in the face of all the academic research produced by Queen's University, Belfast, which I put on the record. I urge anybody who wants to see that research and to know the truth about this matter to read the debate where I put these facts on the record.