Maman Poulet

The Seanad is debating the NAMA Bill and Alexia began a live blog of the debate yesterday which for this injured chicken was a delightful way of continuing my recuperation!

Some intriguing questions – Where was Shane Ross during the debate – ‘Business Regulation Expert’ too busy promoting the book? Or too wary of speaking in the house on the issue?  Why is Joe O’Toole of INTO and ICTU fame consistently voting with the Government on the issue? He thinks supporting NAMA is consistent with supporting social democracy according to Senator Alex White.

The Green Party contributions have been as numerous as in the lower house – ie. not a lot.

And then there’s been the tweeting Senators – this is now officially the the most tweeted event from members of the Oireachtas. Paschal Donohue,  Jerry Buttimer and sometimes even Dan Boyle are tweeting during the debate from the chamber – the heckles continue online and are captured in the Liveblog.

The debate in the Seanad has actually been of a high quality with speakers generally well prepared. And there has been a flock of ministers into bring the bill thorugh the house (Flock according to Frances Fitzgerald – whirlygig according to David Norris)

Hop over to the liveblog to have a look at the pictures, Duracell Bunnies and Ladybird books as well as the results and commentary as it happens.

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The matter of same-sex partnerships came up for discussion in Seanad Eireann yesterday. David Norris was hurting like lots of other lesbians and gay men and he wasn’t afraid to let people know.

Senator David Norris: The principal point I wish to raise is the question of what occurred in the Dáil yesterday and its impact on our legislative programme. The Labour Party put forward its Civil Unions Bill. I experienced a sense of déjà vu and great sadness. It is now four years since I put on the Order Paper of this House the Civil Partnership Bill. Had the Government acted then to support what is a reasonable measure which does not claim marriage, we would now have this law enacted.

The spectre of unconstitutionality has been raised, which is rubbish. Nobody really believes it. That is a creation of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, or as I prefer to call it, the Department of discrimination. The discrimination is emanating from that Department and, unfortunately, we have a decent man, who is well on the way to becoming the Minister for discrimination, in violation of the position adopted in this House by a former Fianna Fáil Minister and Deputy, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. I recall her saying that she, as a Cabinet Minister, would require clear, cogent and factual reasons to introduce discrimination against a citizen.

I have listened to people in this House and in the other one compare the degree of recognition which I would get to somebody with a pet, to a couple of nuns and to a couple of elderly sisters. I repeat what I said yesterday that I am not prepared to accept a dog licence. I am not a second-class citizen, nor will I remain so.

An Cathaoirleach:Is the Senator calling for the introduction of the Bill?

Senator David Norris:I hold up a heavy weight of five folders each with individual sheets and each sheet containing an agonised plea to me about certain aspects of this Bill, especially about Irish citizens in relationships with non-EU citizens. I call on the Government to get off its backside and do something about it. I am not prepared to wait.

Will the Leader give Government time before Christmas to take the Civil Partnership Bill 2004 in my name? If we had done this in 2004, it could easily have been tested. There is a mechanism. We can refer a Bill to the Supreme Court. We are not concerned about constitutionality or protecting the family.

I greatly resent what the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said in the Dáil yesterday that the constitutional aspect involved a possible attack on the family. I say very clearly to all my colleagues in this House that granting me a minimum amount of decency, which almost every other country in Europe has granted, cannot be constituted as an attack on the family. How dare anyone say that to a decent upright citizen such as me and the many thousands of gay people who have lived in servitude for the past 60 years, of which the republican party should be thoroughly ashamed.

and later… Senator John Hanafin from Fianna Fáil made his views known (what’s rare is not wonderful!) – and the repartee began. (One can see what Norris has to endure from time to time from the other side of the house.)

Senator John Hanafin: I support the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, in his decision to rule out gay marriage because it is in conflict with the Constitution and I look forward to the civil partnership Bill. I am reminded of a story told about Sir Thomas More, whose son constantly asked him to do something about a man with whom he had a problem. Sir Thomas More asked his son whether his problem was to do with something against the law of man or the law of God. His son replied it was against the law of God and Sir Thomas More advised him to let God deal with it. However, Sir Thomas More was subsequently asked to recognise the marriage of Henry VIII and therein lies the difference. We are being asked to recognise gay marriage, something I am not prepared to do. What people do in their own homes is one thing; I may not agree with it but that is their own business—-

Senator David Norris: How very generous of Senator Hanafin.

An Cathaoirleach: Senator Hanafin without interruption.

Senator John Hanafin: However, when I am asked to call it a marriage, that is something I am not prepared to do.

Senator David Norris: Nobody cares what Senator Hanafin calls it.

An Cathaoirleach: I ask Senator Norris to respect other speakers. He has already made his contributio

Senator David Norris: I am tired of being insulted in this House and having the tissue of religion used hypocritically to put me in a second class place and I am not a second class citizen in this country and I will not be a second class citizen. That is rubbish from Senator Hanafin. On the few occasions he speaks it is to blackguard people like me.

There were other expressions of support for civil unions during the order of business including one from Eoghan Harris which spoke in favour or marriage and marriage rights being given to same-sex couples.

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So I’m taking a bit of a break, on my annual pilgrimage to the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival,  pleasantly forgetting Michael McDowell (who???). 

It’s the silly season, why? Well it can’t be true that we now have Senator Ivor Callelly and Senator Eoghan Harris. I’m only dreaming or too tired from being to 3 movies today on top of a full day’s work.

20 million people in Asia are affected by flooding.

And now England has a case of Foot and Mouth. 

Excuse me while I immerse myself in some rather fine movie making, a bit of cooking and forget about everything else. Red Mum is such wise woman spending a long time in Turkey, taking fab photos (oh to have some spices!) and becoming an internet tech support woman (multi talented is RM). 

Happy Bank Holiday Weekend – only one more of them before Xmas – such tides of great joy I bring ye all!

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Why is a rss feed about an Irish Times opinion article written by Senator (until July 24th) Colm O’Gorman on the future of the PD’s and first published on June 4th appearing in my google reader tonight? It was published on the PD website on June 21 – so on July 10th they need to remind us subscribed bunnies about it? (Ok you can start your enquiry about how sad Maman Poulet is to be subscribed to the PD’s RSS feed – or that I’m reading my feeds on my holidays, or indeed compliment me on my tech saviness, take your pick.)

Ah I might be out of the country visiting a city of many coffee shops, but one does not need to be partaking of the finest to realise there might be something up. Zigga zig ah! (I am on holidays…)

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You might see a new link in my blog roll! Rosaleen McDonagh is running in the University of Dublin (TCD) Panel in the forthcoming Seanad Eireann Elections. She’s blogging the campaign and promises regular updates! (ah she’ll have to do it now won’t she!)

Rosaleen has been my best friend for I don’t know how long. We have been friends for at least 10 years anyway. As you might expect I’m endorsing her campaign publicly (never mind giving a hand with some campaigning) and if you have a vote in the forthcoming election or know somebody who has a vote please consider Rosaleen for a Number 1. To vote one must be a graduate of TCD, an Irish citizen and most importantly have your name on the electoral register. Votes are being distributed by registered post next week and must be returned by July 24th.

As you will see from her biography and manifesto, Rosaleen brings a very different perspective to Irish politics and her election would be historic for many reasons. So as the results of one election bring us nearer to a new government, canvassing and campaigning are well underway for the next. Even though the electorate in this case are most privileged in their suffrage, the message of her candidacy for those of us seen as other means an awful lot.

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