Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On biodiversity, I understand some of the hesitation of Senator Kyne because four years ago, when he was a Minister of State, we were looking at legislation on biodiversity. Again, are we kicking this further down the road?

Citizens' assemblies are powerful not as a tool of delay, evasion or moving a topic out of the realm of power it is in but when we use them to confront and engage in the difficult and important topics that do not get talked about and that people find hard to talk about, even though they may be experiencing them. Everyone and some communities in particular have experiences, as we have heard. These are topics that need to be addressed and engaged with, where there are fears, prejudices and misinformation. These are where we can actually move from conversations of heat into conversations of light. That was what happened on the eighth amendment and issues such as marriage equality. The citizens' assemblies allowed us to create hope and shine light in areas that were difficult and hidden away. The Seanad has always led on human rights issues and in ensuring those difficult and very intimate experiences of the Irish public are supported and recognised by the State. We should lead on this. I urge everyone to support Senator Ruane's amendment. We should certainly have a third citizens' assembly. That message is clear.