Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 4(2)) (Designation of professions: counsellors and psychotherapists and establishment of registration board) Regulations 2017, back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 4(7)) (Membership of Council) Regulations 2017, back from committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, motion regarding the extension of the term of the Citizens' Assembly to 27 April 2018, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 2, without debate; No. 4, address to Seanad Éireann by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh to mark Bliain na Gaeilge, to be taken at 1 p.m., in accordance with the arrangements set out in the motion passed by the House on Thursday, 8 March 2018; No. 5, Private Members' business, Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and to adjourn no later than 5.15 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 6, statements on Ireland's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to be taken at 5.15 p.m. and to conclude no later than 6.30 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the time allocated to all Senators not to exceed six minutes and the Minister to be given not less than five minutes to reply to the debate.

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to start by congratulating the Irish rugby team on its grand slam victory in the Six Nations Championship. In the wake of Brexit and the talk of a hard border, our rugby team gives us hope and promise of what we can do when we work together on an all-Ireland basis.We were able to celebrate this amazing achievement thanks to the sacrifices made by the members of the team, their support teams and their family members, who do not see them for weeks on end. I thank them and say "well done".

The second item I would like to raise also relates to sport. Unfortunately, this House was not sitting last week when a further allocation of sports funding was announced by the Minister, Deputy Ross. My heart was broken when I went through the list of recipients as I sat at home. I was sure some of the large projects in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 would finally be acknowledged and much-needed funds would be allocated to assist them in their work with young people in my area. I was astonished to see that Wesley College in Dublin was awarded €150,000. Drimnagh Castle CBS, which educates and nurtures some of the finest young men in Dublin, was hoping to get a similar grant for a similar sporting facility, but it was badly let down. Schools in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 rear and educate our young people without the benefit of private funding and are wholly reliant on the State. I cannot understand why those most in need of sports funding were overlooked again. The Government pays lip service on a daily basis to how it intends to look after inner-city communities, but on this occasion it has not put its money where its mouth is. Communities in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 are sick of being dumping grounds for services that other areas do not want, including wet hostels and injection centres. To add insult to injury, the Liberty Saints sports club was handed a cheque for €7,000 while Malahide Rugby Football Club was given over €100,000. There is absolutely no fairness in this. Inner-city communities need proper facilities and adequate housing. This Government is failing at every level. In my opinion, the self-indulgence of the Minister, Deputy Ross, in giving sports allocation grants to private colleges is sickening.

The third item I would like to raise is the use and sharing of personal data on the Internet. The mining of that data by companies has come to light as a result of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The debate on this issue, which has been raised by Senator Higgins and others in this House, had been simmering away, but now it has exploded. When I watched "Prime Time" yesterday, I learned that psychological operations, or planned political operations, are deployed to convey selected information to audiences to influence their motives and political voting patterns. It seems from my understanding that computer scientists and data analysts have figured out how to brainwash us, almost, and to manipulate us our voting patterns. This is very worrying. We need to ensure we have proper legislation in place to govern the sale and use of our data on online platforms. Ultimately, we need to be more self-aware. We need to question our willingness to use and share our personal and private data, thoughts and emotions online. Did those who filled out a Facebook quiz know that the results would be used to target them for their political motivations? Probably not. Many of these platforms are based in and have their headquarters in Ireland. We need to know whether they acquiesced to or had knowledge of what our data would be used for. I am calling for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to come to this House to make a statement on the matter. How does he plan to ensure our data will not be misused and manipulated for political gain?

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I wish to raise the retweeting of a tweet by my colleague, Senator Devine. I know Senator Devine as a hard-working person here in the Seanad, but I could not allow such a thing to go without comment. Brian Stack was a prison officer who served this country during the Troubles. He was murdered by thoughtless people. Like many other members of this country's security forces - prison officers, gardaí and soldiers - Mr. Stack stood guard and looked after this country during the worst of times. It is totally unacceptable that anybody would seek to denigrate his name in any way now. In my view, Mr. Stack was a true patriot of Ireland. He needs to be respected for standing his ground in dealing with prisoners during some of the most troubled times we have known in this country.

I am not going to condemn Senator Devine here today. Instead, I am asking the Leader to set aside time for Senator Devine to come to this Chamber, as a Member of the Seanad, to explain to her colleagues how she got involved in this series of tweets. The retweeting was one thing, but to argue online with Brian Stack's son was totally unacceptable. Many of us in this House have met Austin Stack on various occasions. I have met him at several committee meetings.The man has dedicated much of his life to working towards reconciliation with people. I am absolutely devastated. I had grave reservations about raising this issue coming in here today because one never wants to take one's colleague to task. However, at the end of the day, the murder of a patriot in this country cannot be allowed to be in any way debased or diminished by anyone. Nobody has the right to go after the likes of Mr. Stack. It is so easy to say what one wants about the dead because they cannot speak for themselves. I just think of the family. We have all seen the bots on social media - the faceless people who attack all of us. They will attack my colleagues in Sinn Féin as quick as they will those in Fine Gael or anywhere else. We should not give these people oxygen. I believe that Senator Devine is entitled to time to come in here and explain how she found herself in that situation because all of us have made mistakes in our lives. The Stack family, however, are entitled to a formal apology at the very least.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Devine's attendance, as suggested by Senator Craughwell, is obviously a matter primarily for herself. I will not go into it. Perhaps the Leader can respond later.

Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein)
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Senator Devine did indeed make a very serious error which caused much hurt to the Stack family. She has rightly profusely apologised for her unacceptable actions. Our party president, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, acted swiftly and decisively to implement the disciplinary process which led to Senator Devine being suspended from the party for three months.

Today I want to talk about this week's report from Social Justice Ireland, which once again exposed the reality of systematic poverty which is hidden behind the flashing lights, spinning headlines and fancy presentations designed to mask the inequalities and struggles of the 780,000 people, or 16.5% of Ireland's population, who live below the poverty line. We continue to see that having a job does not equate to coming out of poverty. Behind all the data we see that individuals and families are working day and night while struggling to make ends meet. These are the families that have to deliberate over whether their children are sick enough to warrant the €50 or so it costs to take them to the GP.

They are also the individuals who end up on hospital trolleys, who have no medical card and who cannot afford medical insurance. They are charged the standard Government levy of €80 per night, regardless of whether they get a bed or not. Can it be believed that one has to pay a Government levy of €80 to spend a night on a hospital trolley while being stripped of dignity and left at risk of cross-contamination on a draughty corridor? That is absolutely unacceptable and the Government needs to look at it in light of the huge and ever-increasing numbers of people on hospital trolleys. The people who are being hit by this levy are the working poor. They are the people who have already paid €100 as an emergency charge. They are the people who struggle to find the rent, the mortgage payments, the school transport charges and other household bills. We also see that the poverty rates in rural Ireland are increased by higher costs, including travel costs, and by low-income employment.

Government policies which protect the extremely wealthy while draining every last cent from those on low incomes can be stopped and have to be stopped. We have to heed the report from Social Justice Ireland, which is similar to the reports made by the Combat Poverty Agency ten and 12 years ago. We have to seriously look at those who are working in this country and yet cannot afford a basic standard of living and who are continuously kept below the poverty line.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I thank colleagues for their support for the idea of a cross-party motion on Syria.Over the days since this House last sat the horrific news from eastern Ghouta in particular has continued, with increasing civilian casualties and civilian evacuations. I am grateful to those who have expressed support, and I hope to bring a cross-party motion before this House tomorrow or perhaps early next week. Perhaps the Leader could ensure that it is on the Order Paper without debate so that we can say that the Seanad has agreed this motion. It can then be presented to the Minister, whose office I have been in communication with, and also to other interested parties, such as the Russian ambassador.

I also want to commend the Trinity College Dublin Students' Union and the Take Back Trinity campaign for their campaign last week which challenged the ridiculous and sudden imposition of a new supplemental exam fee. Along with my Trinity colleagues I was delighted to support the students and was proud to be in Front Square on Thursday when the students emerged from their occupation. It felt like old times, to see students engaged in this sort of radical action. The students were entirely supported by staff unions in the college, both administrative and academic, including my own union, the Irish Federation of University Teachers, IFUT. They had really strong support from across the college community for their actions, and I commend the provost for engaging with the students. I am glad to see the matter appears to be moving towards a resolution.

I welcome the progress being made in the other House on the Thirty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution Bill. I am glad to see that it appears to be moving to Committee Stage today. It should be before this House next week; I know that we will be discussing that at the leaders' meeting. From the point of view of the Labour Party, we will co-operate in any way we can to ensure that the Bill is passed before Easter so that we can run a respectful and dignified campaign for repeal.

However, to follow on from what Senator Ardagh said, I would have a real concern about the role that social media campaigning is going to play in this referendum, and indeed in future referendum and election campaigns here. I want to pay tribute to Carole Cadwalladr, the Guardianand Channel Four teams, and the whistleblowers from Facebook and Cambridge Analytica who have come forward to highlight concerns about the misuse of the personal data of Facebook users. Clearly there is more to come in terms of the revelations. We see, for instance, the UK information commissioner seeking a search warrant to search the English offices of Cambridge Analytica. It raises a bigger question for us in Ireland, given that Facebook has its headquarters here, as to how we may regulate Facebook and other such companies to ensure there is adequate protection for personal data. The Data Protection Bill is before us tomorrow, and the Minister has indicated he will be moving certain amendments to that Bill in light of those revelations, but I would ask that in the near future we have a more broad debate over how best to resource and empower our own Data Protection Commissioner to ensure adequate regulation. This started many years ago with the case of Max Schrems. It was an Irish case which lead to a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice, effectively preventing Facebook from misusing data, but we are still seeing the repercussions of such misuse. Again, there are real concerns about how this might play out in a referendum campaign. I will ask the Leader for that debate in due course.

Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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I also congratulate the students in Trinity. I went into the Dining Hall on the second day of the occupation and I felt very proud to see the majority of my campaign team who helped get me into that presidential office occupying the room. They were accompanied by the students from Fossil-Free TCD, and also Students Against Fees, which are campaigns which emerged during my presidency, so I was very proud to see them all join together in a joint effort to protest the commercialisation of education and other issues.

I want to raise the issue of social welfare inspectors and the overstepping of the mark in terms of when they knock on a person's door, especially the doors of lone parents. Perhaps this is more suitable for a Commencement matter. I thought this practice had ended years ago, but I spoke to a few mothers over the last few weeks who have had social welfare inspectors visit them who then searched their wardrobes and presses, looking for any sign that another person is living in the house. This must be an invasion of privacy, and there have to be rules and regulations against this type of searching. Single parents are already living below their means.They may already feel helpless and unable to stand up for themselves against social welfare inspectors because they believe that social welfare inspectors must have the right to go through their wardrobes. This practice has to stop and we need to trust single parents. One has to be able to refuse a request to go through one's drawers. I wish to ask the Minister and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether this is accepted practice. Are there guidelines in place? Do social welfare inspectors decide to do this or are they instructed by the Department to go through people's belongings and their private space?

Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail)
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Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the Warrington bombing. Two bombs, placed in bins, were exploded without warning by the Provisional IRA on Bridge Street, Warrington. Three year old Johnathan Ball died at the scene, 12 year old Tim Parry died five days later from his injuries and 54 others were injured. Nobody was ever prosecuted for these murders and this barbaric incident shocked our two islands. It perhaps brought a renewed focus on peace. I worked in London and then as a GP in Wales and when one said one was from Ireland, the atrocity of Warrington was often mentioned.

Colin and Wendy Parry, the parents of 12 year old Tim Parry, established the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, which works nationally and internationally for peace and non-violent conflict resolution. In 2000, on the seventh anniversary of the bombing, a peace centre was opened and I am sure people like Colin and Wendy Parry never imagined the tragedy visited upon them. When violence and death arrived at their door, however, they chose to make a difference for others. I salute them and every other victim who had the courage to stand up and say bombings never bring people together.

Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá faoi Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta. B'ócáid stairiúil é agus táim i bhfabhar díospóireacht a reachtáil sa Seanad maidir leis an bpróiseas síochána agus Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta. The Good Friday Agreement will be 20 years old in a few weeks and it is timely that we should have a debate on it in the Seanad. The agreement was overwhelmingly approved in two referendums in both parts of Ireland in May 1998, only the second time in a century that the people of Ireland voted on the same issue on the same day on their constitutional status, the first being the election of the first Dáil in 1918.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights rejected the Government's case that 14 internees, the so-called "hooded men", were tortured by the British army and the RUC in the early 1970s. If we are to be fair and if we are to be advocates for human rights, be it in Guantanamo Bay or anywhere, we must be consistent that human rights are fundamental to everybody and justice must prevail and that due course of action must prevail. What was alleged to have happened to those men was nothing short of a disgrace. I want to support the Government. I particularly support the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, in the stand he has taken. I would appeal to the Minister to meet the victims and their legal representatives within days because what happened was wrong and cannot be countenanced regardless of the political sensitivities. In 2014, the Government agreed to have this case re-examined by the European Court of Human Rights but the court yesterday rejected those claims. Speaking for myself, I abhor and hate violence on any side. I advocate justice for all, regardless of their background, tradition, creed or political affiliation. Our thoughts must be with the men who suffered these appalling violations against them as human beings. I simply call for the Minister to meet these men and their legal representatives soon and for the Government to give serious consideration to appealing this decision to the Grand Chamber of the court. This is about human rights. It is about taking a stand, regardless of how long ago it happened, against the methods of torture of people in Northern Ireland. Torture, no matter where and by whom, must stop. I am conscious, as I stated earlier, of Guantanamo Bay, but all over the world, we as parliamentarians must take a stand and defend human rights and justice. I acknowledge the work the Government, and Deputy Coveney, as Minister, has done and I ask that we in this House are kept informed as to progress.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the announcement yesterday by the European Commission about the investment it proposes to put into Wi-Fi. It is proposing that free Wi-Fi would be available in public spaces and it has launched a new project where it is giving a €15,000 voucher to local authorities or local districts to provide free Wi-Fi in public spaces, such as public health centres, community centres and even main streets. It proposes there will be free Wi-Fi in towns. It is a welcome initiative whereby approximately 8,000 local authority districts across the European Union will be connected up with free Wi-Fi in the next two years. It is what we need to see more of. I encourage local authorities to apply for this funding and to work with the towns, in particular, the chambers of commerce, in order that these projects can get off the ground. It is a significant tranche of funding for an issue that is important for us. In my part of the world, one would hope it would be another tool in our box regarding tourism and where we are going in promoting west Cork because if one can provide free Wi-Fi in towns such as Dunmanway, Skibbereen, Clonakilty and Kinsale, one will have another tool along that Wild Atlantic Way, which will help everyone. It is an important step. It needs to be publicised but the local authorities now need to be proactive and need to apply for it. The date set for this funding is 20 May and they must look for it now. The sum of €15,000 for free Wi-Fi in every town in Cork, Dublin, or even Ireland, is very significant. It is there and it only needs to be applied for. I call on the Minister to ensure that the local authorities work actively to ensure we get this infrastructure because the funding is there and it can benefit everyone.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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Like myself, the Leader will have looked at the Taoiseach and the Ministers in the United States over the past week raising the issue of the undocumented Irish.It is a just and important cause. I do not think anybody in the Chamber does not have family who fit that category.

However, one has to compare our approach to the undocumented Irish to our approach to those who come to this country seeking asylum. A few years ago I was chairperson of the public service oversight committee. The committee visited asylum seekers in the direct provision system throughout the State. We went to disused family centres, hotels and buildings and saw families living in surroundings which were entirely inappropriate for their needs. We listened to their stories and prepared a report. I am pleased today that the Ombudsman and Ombudsman for Children have oversight of that system.

I was horrified recently to learn that the Department of Justice and Equality intended to place 150 men, women and children seeking asylum in Lisdoonvarna in west Clare, a village which has a population of 300 outside the summer holiday season. The asylum seekers will be housed in an old hotel in a rural area. It is a great deal for the person who owns the hotel, and good luck to him or her. It is a great bit of commerce, but it is completely inadequate, in particular for the children in the system. The decision is completely unfair. In the main, those who objected did so in the interests of the families who were going to be placed in an entirely inappropriate setting.

Some attempted to misrepresent those who objected as racist or whatever, but that was not the case. They raised the same issues as those raised by our committee, namely, that 150 human beings, in particular children, from all parts of the world were being sent to a hotel in rural Ireland without the necessary amenities or community support. How dare the Department of Justice and Equality make a decision like this without consulting asylum seekers and the local community. I appeal to the Leader to stop the hypocrisy of talking about the undocumented Irish in America while treating asylum seekers, in particular children, in the manner in which we do in this country. We need to sort out this issue.

Ray Butler (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the review of hospital parking charges by the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, for people who are in hospital for a long time. It is long overdue. A man whose wife has cancer spoke on RTÉ recently. Over a six-month period he paid €1,000 in parking charges. My local hospital in west Meath, Navan, charges €4 for parking whether one is there for two minutes or two hours. There is a simple solution to this. If a person is not well over a long period of time and is staying in hospital, there should be no charge for parking for close family members. It is as simple as that. Some hospitals give free passes for certain cases, but this is not common knowledge and most patients and family members are not told about it. They have to keep paying the charges and it is just not good enough. I hope the Minister for Health can come before the House and provide us with a positive outcome. The review is long overdue.

There was a violent post office robbery last week in my constituency of Meath West. I hope the staff get over their terrible ordeal. The staff had to go back behind the counter and give out pensions and other entitlements. Fair dues to them for doing that. It is to be hoped that the brave man who tried to stop the robbers getting away recovers from his injury and the perpetrators are caught. I congratulate the staff on reopening the post office and giving people their entitlements in such difficult times.

David Norris (Independent)
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To complete the trio of Trinity Senators, I spoke on the dining hall steps on behalf of students.

I have sent in a motion to remove Standing Order 41 which prohibits Seanad Éireann from putting down amendments which create a charge on the Exchequer. Within ten minutes I had 12 signatures. People from every single party in the House consistently complain about this issue.A lot of people thought it was in the Constitution; it is not. It is in our Standing Orders. We have the right and the power to remove Standing Order 41, and-----

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I do not wish to interrupt the Senator but this matter is on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for this evening.

David Norris (Independent)
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Very good.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I am not saying that guarantees anything but perhaps the Senator will wish to reflect on the outcome of the committee's deliberations.

David Norris (Independent)
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That is splendid. I thank the Cathaoirleach very much for that information. If this is a decision for the Committee for Procedure and Privileges then we will have time to discuss this matter. I hope it will be a positive decision, otherwise there will be no excuse for anybody to complain about it.

I also wish to raise the decision of the European Court of Human Rights that what happened to the hooded men was not torture. Of course it was torture. A blind bat could see that it was torture. This is extremely important. I do not refer to historical importance pertaining to the people involved in the case. This is used as a precedent by other countries, including the United States of America, to justify extraordinary rendition and torture, including waterboarding. This is where it leads. We have to stand up. The European Court of Human Rights is a creaky old body, and it does not like reopening cases. It has to be pressurised into doing this and I urgently ask that the Minister appeals this matter. It is essential that Ireland appeals this matter to the Grand Chamber. We cannot permit torture, which this plainly was. The European Court of Human Rights got it wrong. It was reluctant to reopen this case. It must do so in the name of humanity.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Today I raise the issue of the crisis that is the shortage of general practitioners, GPs, throughout this country. It is an issue I have raised in this Chamber many times, and I refer to and compliment the work recently done by The Sunday Business Post, which conducted a survey of GPs throughout the country to ascertain the extent of the problem. The results of that survey showed that 64% of GPs surveyed have now closed their doors to new patients. What does that mean? In County Monaghan, in both Carrickmacross and Monaghan town, GPs have closed their doors to new patients completely. I encountered a young couple who returned home with their two children to set up life again in County Monaghan. They approached every GP in the town and none would take them on. Where are these people meant to go? I can only imagine how stressful that is with two young children. They have now been told to approach doctors on call. That is the only option available to them. The doctor on call service is now so overwhelmed that it has capped the number of patients not registered with GPs who will be seen. That cohort includes this family. This is a very serious situation and it has been allowed to get worse under the Government's watch. I ask the Leader to call the Minister for Health before the Seanad to advise Members and the people as to what he is doing to address this serious issue.

The reality is that if someone gets sick he or she cannot go to his or her GP. Now we find that such people cannot go to a doctor on call service. Where will they end up? They will end up queueing, like everybody else, in accident and emergency departments. It is simply not good enough. Everyone knows that the GP is the first line of defence when someone gets sick. We talk about promoting primary care in order that we have a properly functioning system that alleviates the problems in accident and emergency departments. Here is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael)
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I concur with the sentiments expressed earlier by Senator Craughwell. What happened at the weekend falls far below the standard expected of anybody in elected office. In recent years Mr. Austin Stack has been engaged in a long-running battle to find out what happened to his father. As everybody knows, Deputy Adams facilitated a meeting in 2013, and he was taken to that meeting in a blacked-out van, which was ridiculous in 2013.At the time, Austin was told that the perpetrators of that attack on his father were still alive and they had been disciplined. I use inverted commas - as youngster do - on the word "discipline" because if the discipline is anything like the discipline our colleague received at the weekend than I am not inspired. Perhaps by way of making a proper apology to the Stack family for what happened at the weekend, our Sinn Féin colleagues in the House and in the Dáil might encourage their colleagues in the IRA to actually help the Stack family to find out exactly what happened to their father, and perhaps bring the perpetrators to justice?

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I commend Senator Robbie Gallagher. The GP issue has been brought up with me regularly in Limerick also. It is a real concern and is worthy of debate because perhaps we need to look to a new model of GP services delivery.

I wish to speak today about Liam O'Flynn. It is important to remember Liam O'Flynn, who passed away last week. He was particularly close to my heart because when we lived in England in the 1970s, the emigrant experience was much tougher for my parents back then and for people of that generation. They would not get home to Ireland that often, maybe once a year if they were lucky. The music of Liam O'Flynn, and especially on the first album Prosperous, by Christy Moore - which is a Planxty album in all but name - really spoke to those people and it resonated with that generation. Like so many others, I followed Liam O'Flynn's career with huge admiration. I was lucky enough to be at the Planxty reunion concert in 2004. When the sound of Liam's uilleann pipes came soaring in at the beginning the huge cheer that went up from the audience was completely spontaneous. It spoke of the huge admiration for the splendour of his work. It is very important to mark the passing of this man. Liam O'Flynn worked with Seamus Heaney and with Shaun Davey. A piece of work by Liam O'Flynn is a song written by Shaun Davey called Winter's End. It is from a 1993 album called Out to An Other Sideand I contend that it is the most magnificent piece of music ever written. It is important to commend the work of Liam O'Flynn and remember the great man who passed away last week.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Well said.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein)
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Hear. Hear.

Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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I am shocked at the revelations around Cambridge Analytica and the harvesting of data of 50 million Facebook users. This obviously helped with the election of President Trump. Over the years we have talked of dirty tricks and underhand methods in elections but they are in the ha'penny place to what is happening now. We need a debate on this issue with regard to bribes, ex-spies, dirty tricks and fake news. We certainly need a debate to find out what exactly is happening with social media. As we have discussed today, it is far from user-friendly and is being used to model human behaviour. It could be used to undermine the democratic process in elections.

Senator Gavan referred to the UK. I was in the UK for most of the week. I was in Cheltenham, in Twickenham and in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. There is goodwill towards the Irish in the UK but we need to discuss Brexit. It is looming large and if the United Kingdom leaves the EU it will have a huge impact on the island of Ireland.

The Irish people in England and the Irish on the island of Ireland were united with the wonderful result last Saturday. I am more of a soccer man than a rugby man but this year it is 30 years since Ireland beat England 1-0 in Stuttgart. As with the uilleann pipes, Shaun Davey and Planxty, sport also gives the Irish people living in the UK a great sense of pride, nationalism and patriotism, without spilling any blood. I believe the Cathaoirleach worked in the UK.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome this morning's announcement that Pope Francis is to visit Dublin for two days at the end of August on the occasion of the world meeting of families. I am disappointed, however, that there seems to be no indication that the Pope will visit the North of Ireland.That would be regrettable if it is the case.

My main reason for raising this issue is to ask the Leader if he would indicate whether there is any proposal to invite Pope Francis to address both Houses of the Oireachtas. This is a proposal that has been made in the past by Senator Norris and there was general acceptance and agreement that that should be the case. It would be appropriate that the Pope, as the leader of hundreds of millions of Catholics throughout the world and head of the Vatican State, should be invited to address a meeting of both Houses. I ask the Leader to indicate whether that is being considered. If not, I propose that it should be considered and ask what process must we engage in to ensure that it happens.

On Senator Feighan's comments regarding Brexit, it is time that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade came back to the House to give us an update on the situation pertaining to Brexit, which is changing on a day-to-day, week-to-week and month-to-month basis. In recent weeks, we have heard indications from certain elements of the Conservative Government that perhaps a solution to the Border difficulties would be that people from the Republic of Ireland who intended to travel to the Six Counties would register their intention to do so. As somebody who comes from a Border community, who was born and reared in that community and who saw at first hand the detrimental effect it had on that region, both economically and personally, I want to put it on the record of this House that I and the community from which I come have no intention of registering our intent to visit another part of our country. I call on the Tánaiste to come before the House to provide an update on Brexit, especially as it pertains to the Border region.

Finally, I welcome those from St. Mogue's college in Bawnboy, County Cavan, who are visiting both Houses this afternoon.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Wilson covered a wide range of issues. I call Senator Colm Burke.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I join my colleague, Senator Gavan, in his tribute to Liam O'Flynn and the contribution he made to Irish music over a long number of years. He is a huge loss. It is important that we give recognition to those who have made a major contribution in the promotion of Irish music over a long period.

I have raised with the Leader on a number of previous occasions my concerns regarding the issue of the GP contract. I welcome that the Minister for Health has announced that the negotiations for a new contract are to start in April but I would hope that this is not another process ad infinitum. The contract has been in place for over 40 years. We need to progress the issue of how GPs are supported in the community and, as a result of their contribution, how they support people in communities and keep them out of hospital. On the Commencement debate earlier, I raised the need to train and upskill people in the context of providing home care. Likewise, we need to ensure that we have a sufficient number of GPs - working together with public health nurses, community nurses and those who provide home care - to provide care in the community and keep as many as possible out of the hospital and nursing home systems.Although it will not happen before Easter, I suggest that it might be timely to have a debate after Easter on community care and health care outside the hospital structure. All of our focus has been on the hospital structure and the HSE. It is something we should really consider doing.

In respect of priorities, I am concerned that staffing levels in the HSE have gone up by 11,000 in the last three years. There is now nearly one new person in administration or management in the HSE for every general practitioner in the country. That is a disproportionate growth in administration and management in the HSE.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I support and wholeheartedly endorse Senator Diarmuid Wilson's proposal as regards Pope Francis. We have a fine tradition in this country of inviting visiting Heads of State to address these Houses. As he is the Head of the Vatican State, which we have long recognised, it would be appropriate that he be invited to address the joint Houses of the Oireachtas. I join with Senator Wilson in asking the Leader to make the necessary inquiries as to how this could be set in train.

I also support what the Senator has said about Brexit. I do not think any of us would want to be getting involved in any paperwork and that we would frankly refuse to do so. I think it is accepted by both sides, anyway, and indeed by the EU, that this will not happen. Hopefully they will facilitate an all-encompassing trade agreement involving the entire EU and the UK. They will not enter a customs union but they may call it something else, a customs partnership or whatever, and that would satisfy the matter, please God. Some of us are going to spend Monday and Tuesday of next week in the so-called palace of Westminster, meeting committees of the Commons and the Lords. We will be delighted to give the House an update when we return on Wednesday or Thursday.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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As it is the spring equinox, I would like to wish everybody a happy lengthening of the days. It is also international Down's syndrome day. It is a day to reflect on the joy that those good people bring into so many people's lives, the inspiration they are for so many. It is also a day to reflect on our need to include them and people with disabilities generally more and more in our society. We have had debates here during which we have probably all spoken from time to time about special needs, education and so on. It is a good day to remember that we still have a long way to go towards genuine inclusion.

I compliment people and companies in the private sector who make space within their workforce, sometimes quite visibly, for persons with Down's syndrome, who make a wonderful contribution. I also pay tribute to those people, prominent and not so prominent, who do their best to make them more visible in our society. I would encourage colleagues, if they have not already seen it, to look at a documentary called "A World Without Down's Syndrome?", produced by a woman called Sally Phillips a number of years ago. Some Senators may know of Sally as an actress. She featured in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and she set out to explore in an emotional but quite compelling way why it is that with increasing possibilities of screening, such children are being screened out in other jurisdictions, to the point where it is predicted that after a period of years children with Down's syndrome simply will not be born. There is a lot of food for thought for us in that. I would recommend to people to watch that particular documentary, produced by Sally and featuring her son, Olly. It is really very compelling.

Most of us have been called on to comment on what our colleague said on social media. It is an embarrassing situation because the person making that call, Austin Stack, is somebody who needs to be heard. He is an important voice for the justice that is due to his family over what happened to his father.Therefore, it would be wrong of us to engage in a kind of an embarrassed collegiality and just pipe down. Equally, it would be wrong for us to engage in the business of virtue signalling, which goes on a lot in politics these days where we want to show how well behaved we are. Senator Devine has already apologised but I would like her to have the space to do so in this House as well. I have always believed that a culture of allowing people to up their game and learn from their mistakes, and let us face the fact that we all make mistakes, is better than a culture of calling for heads to roll. The reconciliation, apology or amends must be sincere and for too long there has been tribalism in politics where people say they embrace new politics but fall back to embracing oppositionalism and hostility.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Yes.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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The Cambridge Analytica business is, quite frankly, beyond me in its technical complexity. It seems to concern bots which seems to be where robots imitate human beings. Perhaps when it comes to social media we need to avoid the phenomenon of human beings acting like robots, in other words robotically getting into a language, and I am not just talking about the particular incident I have mentioned. There is too much abuse, negativity and nastiness in social media and that is why some of us are pulling away from using social media, to a certain extent. Let us, as politicians, given the privileged position that we enjoy, give a lead in the responsible use of social media and point the finger at ourselves as much as we might be tempted to point it at others.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Well said.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on the Leader, I wish to be associated with two things, the first being the remarks made about the great Liam O'Flynn. He was a great musician but he was also an artist.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I also wish to acknowledge and congratulate the Irish rugby players on their great victory in Twickenham. I have attended matches in Twickenham a good few times but, unfortunately, the result mostly went the wrong way. The people of west Cork have a huge claim to Tadhg Furlong who wore the No. 3 jersey because his mother comes from Whiddy Island. The people of west Cork are very proud of him. His number one supporter is his grandmother, Mrs. Noreen O'Leary, who still lives on Whiddy Island. She is a lovely lady and I have often had the good fortune to visit her house for a cup of tea. When I go to these matches, although it is not often, I always claim that a man from Bantry or Whiddy Island - where only 20 people now reside - is on the front row of the Irish team. His mother took up a teaching job in south Wexford and I am sure his father, James Furlong, will have a different claim. I have been very fortunate to have met him on a few occasions and they are lovely people. This was a great and uplifting occasion for the country. I felt that I had to make those remarks.

In terms of No. 5, Private Members' business, Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016, can the Leader clarify whether the Order for Committee Stage and Committee Stage will be taken together?

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Ar aghaidh leat anois.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. I thank the 20 Members of the House for their contributions on the Order of Business. I begin by joining with all of the Senators in congratulating the Irish rugby team on their magnificent success on Saturday. The occasion brought great joy and celebrations to us as a people. I also congratulate Rory Best and commend Joe Schmidt on their leadership and tremendous success in winning the Grand Slam, in particular winning in Twickenham on St. Patrick's Day. I thank all of the supporters, clubs, mentors and family members who supported or assisted all of these players to reach the pinnacle of their professional careers last weekend.

I thank the Irish supporters for the way they celebrated and behaved during the course of St. Patrick's Day. I commend all who organised and participated in the St. Patrick's Day parades that took place across the country. It was a wonderful showcase for us, as a people. It highlighted the importance of community, creativity and art in this country. I join with Senators Gavan, Feighan, Coghlan and tú féin, a Chathaoirleach, in paying tribute to and remembering the late Liam O'Flynn. I wish to convey on my own behalf, and on behalf of the House, our sympathies to his family on his sad passing.

I wish to refer to the contribution made by Senator Gavan.I would love to have been at the Planxty reunion. The evocative image Senator Gavan created this morning is something Liam O'Flynn did through his music, work and art. I wish to be associated with the remarks on his sad passing.

Data protection was raised by Senators Ardagh, Bacik and Feighan, among others. The misuse of personal data is both wrong and worrying. The Data Protection Commissioner is having a meeting with representatives of Facebook. It is important that we realise the significance of what has taken place with Cambridge Analytica and to commend all involved in unfurling this issue. It is a cause of worry. It is our personal data and data harvesting, whether is on Facebook or elsewhere, is wrong and cannot be condoned. Whether it occurs in the United States, Ireland or the UK, we must be careful and cognisant of it. I am sure part of the Minister's Bill tomorrow will address some of the issues involved. However, we must be vigilant in how we use our information online and how we use online apps and information. It is critical to ensure that what we do online is not given away. I realise there are some who will use this as a stick with which to beat people but Facebook's European headquarters is in this country. It has a duty to live up to its obligations and I hope it does so. The Minister will be in the House tomorrow to discuss the Data Protection Bill and I hope he will address some of the significant issues mentioned in the House this morning. However, it is a worry. The trend has begun and I hope it can be curtailed and eliminated. We have a precious democracy and our vote. We do not have electronic voting but there is the ability to be influenced by online platforms, as we have seen in other jurisdictions. I hope that cannot continue.

Senator Ardagh raised the sports capital funding. For the record, 35 of the 149 appeals under the sports capital programme appeals process proved successful. I am not familiar with the information the Senator gave this morning with regard to the school she mentioned, but schools are eligible to apply. It is ironic that the Senator is complaining about the sports capital programme given that the party of which she is a member closed it down and deprived clubs and schools of the ability-----

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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We created it.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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It was actually the former Minister, the late Donal Creed, who set up the sports capital fund under the national lottery. Rather than playing one school against another, the sports capital programme is about investing in community, sporting and educational facilities. There was an appeals process. There were some clubs in my constituency that were unsuccessful. I wish they had been successful. It is important to understand the importance of the sports capital programme. Many clubs, community groups, schools and facilities are celebrating the sports capital programme, having been awarded an allocation from it.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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Very much so.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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With regard to the inner city, the Government established an inner city task force which is investing in Dublin's inner city. As regards the point made by Deputy Ardagh about Dublin 8 - to be fair, she has made it previously - I certainly hope that Dublin 8 would not be seen as a dumping ground for the issues the Senator raised. The people of Dublin 8 and surrounding areas are fine people who invest in their community, promote it and have a great sense of community. I will be happy to arrange that debate with the Minister in the House.

Senators Craughwell, Conway-Walsh, McFadden and Mullen raised the tweet by Senator Devine. In my political life I never call for a head or make a matter personal but it is fair to say that Senator Devine's actions were grave and catastrophic, to quote Deputy McDonald. The response of Sinn Féin has been less than adequate, to be honest. I will not get into a political row about this because that is not my style. Brian Stack was killed. He was a prison officer doing his job. It is not like anything any other Member of the Oireachtas or politician retweets. This man was killed and Austin Stack is seeking justice for his father and his family.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Murdered.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Yes, he was murdered. His life was cut short. I agree with Senator Mullen.It is about ensuring that we allow Senator Devine the space to come to the House, if she so chooses, to make a comment. In our online activity, none of us can support or retweet anything which is so uncaring in terms of what the Stack family is trying to do. There is a duty on all of us, whether we are Independents, members of political parties or members of society, to be careful what we say, what we tweet or what we put online. I have no time for cowards who hide behind anonymous Twitter handles and issue bile against all of us. They have no place in a democracy. As democrats, we go before the people and appear on television programmes or radio panels and are accountable. The issue of keyboard warriors, who are cowards, needs to be addressed. I hope Senator Devine will reflect on her position. Other people have made comments but I have never been personal or sought someone's head in my political life. We all have a duty to understand that this is not just any person, it was a prison officer who was murdered while doing his job. His family deserve justice.

Senator Conway-Walsh referred to the Social Justice Ireland report. I have not seen the report but I know Social Justice Ireland held a press conference earlier. It is important to recognise that unemployment in decreasing and that more people are back at work, which means that people have more money in their pockets and that the level of poverty is decreasing. I accept that we have a long way to go. That is why, in a recovering economy, it is important to spend money on services and programmes which deliver for people. It is also important to recognise that we have a finite amount of money to spend. I would like someone to tell me why, given that we are spending over €13 billion on health this year, people are still waiting on trolleys and, as Senator Colm Burke inquired, why there has been an increase in the numbers in management. The fundamental structure of the HSE, which was created by Deputy Micheál Martin, is wrong and unsound. That is why the Sláintecare report was published.

Senator Gallagher referred to GPs. As Senator Colm Burke said, the talks with GPs begin now. We should not procrastinate or allow the process to become an elongated discussion. We need investment in primary care. We need to get rid of the FEMPI legislation, which was introduced by Fianna Fáil, and restore pay to doctors, nurses and those working in our health system. That is why the all-party report on Sláintecare was published. It is extraordinary that we have inequalities and inadequacies in our health system at a time when we have the highest ever budget. Something is not right. In my opinion, it is the management structure of the HSE. Senator Colm Burke is 100% correct. We have too many managers and people walking around hospitals with clipboards and pens. We need investment in real people. I speak from experience in that regard.

I agree with Senator Bacik on the all-party motion on Syria. I am endeavouring to have an all-party motion from the point of view of the Government, as she knows.

I join Senators Norris and Ruane in commending the students of Trinity College. They raised the ridiculous decision to introduce a fee for students repeating exams before the St. Patrick's day break. As I said, students are vulnerable and under stress. The decision was wrong and I welcome the talks and intervention by the student body. It is always important to have a good student body. Senator Ruane was a member of the student body when she attended Trinity College. It is important that students' unions recognise that they have power, legitimacy and a mandate from their peers to negotiate on their behalf.

I hope the referendum Bill goes through the Dáil today and tomorrow. As we discussed at the leaders' meeting last week, I hope to have the Bill in the House next week and to conclude the debate on it by Easter in order that we can allow for the establishment of the Referendum Commission. All Senators should allow for our deliberations on the Bill to be concluded before the Easter recess.

Senator Ruane referred to social welfare inspections. I am not familiar with the issue she raised. We have always had social welfare inspections but there is a need for decorum and due process.Equally, there are people who are abusing the system who need to be held to account. I agree with the Senator that there is a balance we can strike in this regard.

Senator Byrne asked when the dual-diagnosis clinical programme for addiction and mental health announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, will be established. I will endeavour to have that information provided to the Senator.

One the eve of the anniversary of the Warrington bombing, I join Senator Swanick in paying tribute to Colin and Wendy Parry on their bravery and courage and in remembering Jonathan Ball and Tim Parry, who were killed in that bombing. We all remember the effect it had on us and so many people around the world. The Senator is right to praise and commend them on their bravery.

It is my intention to have a discussion on the Good Friday Agreement post Easter. I will endeavour to have that debate the first week after the Easter recess. We had hoped to take statements on issues pertaining to Brexit related to the North but owing to changes to the Minister's schedule, we will have to rearrange the taking of that debate.

Senator Boyhan's contributions are, in the majority of cases, profound. His commentary this morning regarding the rejection by the European Court of Human Rights of the Government's case around the so-called hooded men is baffling. Those men were tortured by the British army and the RUC and their human rights were denied. Irrespective of who they are, they are entitled to be treated with respect and dignity. I agree with the Senator that human rights are applicable to everybody.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Sorry, I cannot let that stand.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I was agreeing with the Senator's commentary.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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For the record, I know exactly what I said. I am clearly supporting the Government and calling for an appeal.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I am not disagreeing with the Senator: I am agreeing with him. Our thoughts are with the men who suffered appalling treatment and whose case must be heard again. The Minister was due to meet with them but owing to Storm Emma that meeting had to be cancelled. I am not disagreeing with the Senator so I am not sure where he is coming from.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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The Leader used the word "baffling".

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I am baffled by the decision of the court.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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We are all in favour of an appeal.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I welcome the clarification.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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There was no ambiguity in my position, Senator Boyhan.

Senator Lombard spoke about the WiFi4EU programme. It is important that all local authorities, the Government and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, get on board with this programme. Yesterday, President Juncker spoke about connectivity in every village and city by 2020. I hope that we can do that.

Senator Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of asylum seekers in Lisdoonvarna. All of us accept that we have a duty to take in refugees and to make them welcome here. I am not familiar with the details of the case in Lisdoonvarna but I am certain that the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, as a former Chairman of the justice committee and a person with huge interest in this area is working with the Department on this issue. The Senator might get a speedier response were he to table a Commencement matter on the issue. All of us recognise that we must people who come to our country with respect and dignity and that is what, I am sure, the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, is endeavouring to do in this case. As I said, I am not familiar with the case.

Senator Butler raised the issue of hospital parking charges. I congratulate the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, on being the first Minister to examine the issue of hospital parking charges. To be fair, Senator Noone raised the matter here long the current furore about it. It is important that there is recognition of the reason family members visit hospitals. Some hospitals provide a voucher to the families of people who are in cancer treatment. It is important to acknowledge that the review is under way.

I join with Senator Butler in congratulating the staff in the Athboy post office on their decision to return to work immediately and in wishing the innocent member of the public well in his recovery.

Senator Norris also raised the issue of European Court of Human Rights decision. The other matter raised by the Senator is one for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges.

Senators Gallagher and Burke raised the issue of general practitioners, who play a critical role in our health system. It is important that a new GP contract is signed immediately. We also need an increase in capacity and to bring about reform. Senator Gallagher has become a little absent-minded in his outlook in life in respect of his contributions on the Order of Business of late. He is coming to the Chamber with rose-tinted glasses. He should look upon the FEMPI cuts imposed by his own party and the way in which they decimated the health system when Fianna Fáil was in government. Now we are seeing an increase in the number of training places and a recruitment campaign. However, I recognise that we have a way to go and should see a reversal of FEMPI and pay restoration for our GPs, who are at the vanguard of what is done in the health system. Primary care is important, and it is important, as I said earlier, that the talks, including the contract talks, begin immediately and do not become an prolonged talking shop. Our GPs deserve pay restoration and improved pay and conditions. If we are to give due recognition to reform in our health system, our GPs must be part of that and we need that done immediately.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I remind the Leader that his party has been in government for the past seven years. He is beginning to believe his own spin.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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We will not-----

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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In many ways he reminds me of the guy in the race-----

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Gallagher-----

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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-----who is so far behind all the rest he thinks he is in the lead.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Gallagher, please let the Leader-----

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Senator Gallagher protests too much, I think. I know he is under pressure with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, in the constituency, but he should acknowledge some of the things that are happening. This Government has seen the publication of the rural practice support framework. I would be happy to have a debate on this. Where I agree-----

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Sometimes it is best not to poke the bear.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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The Leader causes trouble-----

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Yes, he causes trouble.

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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-----even when agreeing with someone.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I join Senators Wilson and Coghlan in hoping Pope Francis will come to the four corners of the country, not just Dublin. It is important he is welcomed into our country. He is the Head of State of the Vatican and the head of the Catholic Church, the Pontiff. I would very much support and welcome an address by him to a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I am very much of the view that we should facilitate that if his itinerary allows him to do so. I also hope the organisers of the conference in Dublin will recognise the diversity of family units in our country. It is not just husband and wife; there are also single mothers, members of the LGBT community, who are well able to raise their children, and widows and divorcees raising their children. I therefore hope the idea of family is broadened as that would be inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

I have addressed the issue Senator Colm Burke raised. He is right about community health care. We should have that debate also.

Senators Feighan and Coghlan raised the issue of Brexit and the significance of the talks next Friday. I wish our Taoiseach, our Tánaiste and the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, every success in them. From our perspective, an Irish perspective, the Government and the Taoiseach next Friday will determine what happens and decide if enough progress is being made, but the important point for us is that nothing is agreed in respect of Brexit until everything is agreed. The backstop is, as the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have said, as legally firm as the Government said it would be in December. The decision by the UK and Europe is one on which we need to see further talks and negotiations. Where Senator Wilson and I agree completely is that, as Senator Coghlan said, no one wants to see, and no one will countenance, having to apply to travel north of the Border in our own country or to have-----

Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)
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We will not do it.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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-----a piece of paper before doing so. The Canadian model was rejected because of the paperwork and the unnecessary steps that would have to be made in this regard.

Senator Mullen raised World Down Syndrome Day, which is today. I hope he is wearing odd socks because we were asked to do so today.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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I missed that, but on any given day I possibly am wearing odd socks.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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As someone who has been involved with Cope Foundation all my life, whose parents worked in Cope Foundation, and who has always been a supporter of young and old men and women with Down's syndrome, I know the joy they bring is one we should all celebrate. There is a duty on all of us to ensure they are included in society. It is also important that anyone having a discussion about men and women with Down's syndrome recognise that they are human beings who are well capable of thinking, articulating and advocating on their own behalf. We should celebrate them and rejoice with them. Equally, it is important they are not used as pawns in any debate that takes place in our society or in any campaign by anyone because they are not pawns to be put on billboards.They are men and women deserving of treatment-----

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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They are speaking for themselves on the issue to which the Leader is referring.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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That is what I am saying. I am not disagreeing with the Senator.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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They must be allowed to speak for themselves.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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Unlike others, I have never silenced anybody. I am all in favour of it. That is why the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution voted to reject that particular issue as part of the referendum.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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That committee was disgraceful on the issue.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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It is important that we have balance on the matter. However, I agree that they are people who should be celebrated.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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The Senator brought the issue up.