Order of Business
Senator Ivana Bacik: I, on behalf of the Labour Party, join other Members in welcoming the Paisleys to the House. It is historic to see them in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery.
Yesterday, I asked the Leader for a debate on the need for climate change legislation. Today, I renew my call, this time to the Deputy Leader, for such a debate. It is noteworthy the Government side only defeated the amendment I proposed to yesterday’s Order of Business by two votes, 28 to 26. That was with all three Green Senators voting with the Government side and against the call for a debate on climate change.
Senator Dan Boyle: And we will do so again.
Senator Ivana Bacik: Yesterday, the Deputy Leader said the heads of the Government’s climate change Bill will be published by the end of this week and the Bill itself in the next term.
Senator Dan Boyle: By the end of the month.
Senator Ivana Bacik: Will he clarify when precisely the heads of the Bill will be published and the Bill be introduced? I commend Friends of the Earth and the Stop Climate Chaos campaign which ran a full day’s lobbying yesterday in Buswells Hotel on the need for climate change legislation. My Climate Protection Bill has been languishing on the Order Paper since October 2007. If the Government is finding it difficult to come up with its own Bill, it could simply adopt my legislation.
I will not be lectured by Senator Mullen on the need for women Members to take an interest in issues around prostitution and trafficking. I have often called upon the Leader for debates on these issues.
Senator Rónán Mullen: I was not giving any Member a lecture.
Senator Ivana Bacik: I have worked for many years with organisations such as Ruhama on the need to protect victims of abuse and trafficking.
Senator Rónán Mullen: I spoke about criminalising the users of prostitution.
An Cathaoirleach: No interruptions.
Senator Ivana Bacik: It is important the House debates this matter and that all male colleagues take an active role in it. It is men who are the users of prostitutes.
Senator Rónán Mullen: We can work together on it.
Senator Ivana Bacik: We should be working together on this. However, as Senator Keaveney said, we will not be lectured by male Members on this topic.
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