9th October, 2002
Dr. Henry: I have been advised by Senator White that I should not be repetitive. I was here for most of the debate as I was in the Chair. It is worthwhile pointing out that we can watch the debate on the monitors in our offices. That gives us the opportunity to shout abuse at whoever is speaking if we do not agree with what they are saying.
It is worth repeating the few points which have been made about scripts. The Standing Orders of both Houses state that Members should not speak from scripts. It was delightful to hear everyone speaking today without scripts. Scripts are a bore because I often think of better things I should have included. When I deviate from them, I usually cannot find my place again. It is better not to have them.
There was great concentration on the university Senators, who everyone agreed are a delightful bunch. We have made a tremendous contribution to the House. The franchise should be extended, as provided for in the 1979 referendum, to all third level graduates. However, one problem is that if constituencies get too big, it will be impossible for Independents to service them and they could be taken over by the political parties. That would be a pity.
Senator O'Toole's comments about allowing members of the nominating bodies to elect some of those on the panels are worth considering. That would not be difficult to do. Senator Ó Murchú, who spoke in Irish, said he was optimistic about the fact that we would introduce some reform. My Irish is not great but that is what I understood him to say. However, I am not quite as optimistic. Nevertheless, it is good to have a good discussion on the subject.
As regards the university seats, a complaint was made about addresses not being up to date. That is the person's own fault. Each person must update his or her address with the university and ensure he or she is on the general electoral roll. One is told to check the notices in the newspapers before every election. The same applies to the university seats.
I brought up on the Order of Business an issue which is dear to my heart. Reports are laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, but not a blind bit of notice is taken of them. I asked on the Order of Business that the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals be discussed. These reports have been compiled at considerable expense, time and effort since the early 1970s. Until I managed to have that report discussed here in 1995, it had not been discussed in either House of the Oireachtas.
Some 30,000 people are admitted to mental hospitals every year, of whom between 2,000 and 3,000 are admitted involuntarily. It is not difficult to understand that this is an extremely important part of the health service. I do not know how many people have read the reports, but they are extremely good. Each year since then I have had to use my one Private Members' time to get the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals discussed in the House. The only exception was when Fine Gael gave me one of its slots. It has not been discussed yet in the other House. That shows how shabbily reports which are laid before both Houses are treated.
I am not asking the Leader to go through the various reports of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and household budget surveys, although those could be interesting. What about the forum on fluoridation? Why can we not choose some of the important reports which have not been discussed in either House and make them the business of the House? If we do not speak for more than half an hour or everyone says they are boring, that is fine. However, perhaps they will be important issues.
I would like the report of the Inspector of Mental Hospitals to be discussed in Government time this year before it becomes an historic document. It is a serious document. We introduced a new Mental Health Act last year, but it has not been implemented, apart from the establishment of the commission a year after the Act was passed. This is a serious area. Such reports could be discussed in the House in a non-party and non-confrontational manner. There is not a party political atmosphere in the Seanad and that is useful. Senator Finucane mentioned the different atmosphere during debates in this House. This is one of the elements I would like to see and it does not require reform. It will be necessary that we take notice, read the contents of the Order Paper and decide among ourselves which matters are important. We could then allocate 30 minutes, an hour or whatever is required to discuss them.
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