Ivana Bacik

Order of Business

Senator Ivana Bacik: Yesterday I wanted to say a word of thanks to my colleague, Senator Norris, for his kind words about me on the Order of Business. I am very grateful to him and I look forward to working with him and Senator Ross in representing our constituents in Dublin University. I also wanted to congratulate Senator Norris on his recent acclamation as Gay Icon of the Year by the National Lesbian and Gay Federation in its first annual awards— if I may be permitted to do that, as I am speaking about a Member of this House.

I echo the words of Senator Alex White in that it does seem absurd in the extreme if we cannot comment on any individual outside the House. Clearly, we do it all the time as a matter of routine and this must continue.

I also welcome the outcome of the Lisbon treaty referendum which I hope will usher in new potential for workers’ rights with the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. I ask the Leader for a debate on the implications of the Lisbon treaty, particularly for workers’ rights, and for the improvement of work conditions through implementation of the charter.

Not only was the result very welcome for Ireland generally, and for the protection of human rights for all of us, but it was also very welcome in that we saw the defeat of a group that might be described as the armed or paramilitary wing of the Catholic Church, namely, Coir. Perhaps now that the Catholic Church has disowned Co´ ir it might better be described as the dissident wing, or “Continuity Catholics”. It was very welcome to see that organisation defeated. Its posturing and the manipulation of the truth in its posters backfired on the whole campaign against the Lisbon treaty. I say that, knowing there were very many people who voted “No” for very good and rational reasons whom I do not denigrate in any way. The Coir campaign was dishonest in the extreme.

Now we are back to real politics with a vengeance. People outside are not only discussing the resignation of the Ceann Comhairle last night — which I believe was a correct decision — but there is an ongoing debate about NAMA. I ask the Leader to give time in this House for us to debate NAMA properly and in an informed manner, with answers to the questions that need to be asked.

I refer, in particular, to the question Fintan O’Toole, if I may mention his name, has been asking, namely, why we are spending billions of euro propping up a zombie bank, Anglo Irish Bank. That must be the most burning question because it raises doubt about the Government’s plan to implement NAMA. NAMA clearly has many flaws as a whole. Many of us have questioned the very idea of it and have suggested alternatives. However, Anglo Irish Bank is the bank or institution that perhaps exposes most drastically the extraordinary flaws and the extraordinary gamble the Irish taxpayer is being asked to take with NAMA. We need that debate in an informed environment where we will get answers to questions.

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