Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday I raised my concerns about the apparent lack of interest on the part of the Government and the Minister for Health in having a genuinely independent chair of the committee that is to review the operation of the abortion legislation. Senator Pauline O'Reilly, who I greatly esteem and respect, reminded me the people had spoken in the referendum. As I said, they did indeed but they left it open to these Houses to determine precisely what law we have on this troubling area, however extreme, restrictive or extensive it may be. That is why we must never abandon our duty as legislators to continue to review the situation. I was pointing out that there are real issues of concern about how the law is operating, in particular about the Government's apparent lack of interest in palliative care or pain relief in circumstances where babies are born alive after the procedures now permitted. That must be an issue for review. That is why I am saying the chair of this committee must be genuinely independent. It is a simple matter of even-handedness in a democracy. Given that hardly anybody is neutral on this very difficult issue, I suggest that somebody like a judge or retired judge who has a professional obligation to strive for neutrality and impartiality at all times could be the person to take on this difficult task. The Government cannot simply wish away the third of the people who have profound difficulties with this new law and indeed the many others who voted for it but who are worried about some of the issues arising from it. We are a democracy. Those of us who have ethical concerns cannot be expected to go under a rock. Whenever the Minister speaks, he does so only in terms of extending this law further. That is unfair. He needs to do his job as a Minister for all of the people.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly went on to talk about animal welfare in the context of live exports. That is an issue that pricks my conscience too but for heavens’ sake we must start with our own species, particularly if there are questions about indifference to suffering in the context of abortion.I also raised yesterday the issue of the arrest and detention of certain racehorse trainers and vets in France by the Service Central des Courses et Jeux, which is the branch of the police there that is responsible for gambling and racing offences. I raise it again because the Cathaoirleach rightly pointed out that it is not appropriate at this time to invite in the Chair of the agriculture committee. This is because the records of period of time has not passed to discuss the agriculture committee's report and its recommendations about governance, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, as well as the protocols and the powers that are needed to test for doping and to prevent it. However, it would be appropriate to ask for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come in here to discuss with us whether there is sufficient enforcement of the law. It would be almost impossible for An Garda Síochána to arrest and detain somebody around the issue of doping of horses, unless it was known that there were significant animal welfare issues directly involved or unless they had caught the person on the spot. There is also a question about whether the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is sitting on cases and failing to pursue prosecutions in this area. There was a well-known case, and I will finish with this, of the vet, Mr. John Hughes, who was prosecuted. Yet, even in that case there was not a conviction. There has been a blind-eye approach in this country. It worth asking whether it would be a good idea to have a branch of our own An Garda Síochána responsible for issues involved in gambling and abuses in the important racing industry. I am asking for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to come in in the meantime.