The Indian government was condemned by Government and Opposition members for its recent nuclear tests.
Fine Gael leader in the House, Mr Maurice Manning, said Irish governments over many years had been active in seeking to prevent further proliferation of atomic weapons. What had just taken place would have enormous consequences for that part of the world and for the entire future of nuclear weapons. Calling on the House to deplore the latest test series, he said it was important that Ireland be seen to take a very strong view on this matter.
Mr Joe Costello (Labour) said the Government should condemn India for breaching the nuclear test ban. This was the first time in almost a quarter of a century that India had conducted such tests. Ireland should seek through the United Nations to have sanctions imposed for this breach.
Mr John Dardis, deputy Government leader in the House, said the tests were disturbing and distasteful. The Seanad had expressed the strongest disapproval of the last French nuclear test series in the Pacific. Mr Michael Lanigan (FF) cautioned against the imposition of economic sanctions, saying they would not have any effect on the Indian government. The starving people of India had to be kept in mind.
Mr John Connor (FG) said the tests were particularly insidious because of the impact they had on that area of the world. Members of the House would have heard the belligerent statements made by Pakistan and they would be aware of what these events could do to other powers in that region.
The leader of the House, Mr Donie Cassidy, undertook to make time available for statements on this "atrocity" tomorrow.
Calling for a debate on what he said was euphemistically called professional sport, Mr Michael Lanigan (FF) claimed that triple Olympic Gold medalist Michelle Smith had been subjected to a totally unethical and immoral testing procedure during her menstrual cycle at the Atlanta Olympic Games. How could sport be associated with people standing by when athletes were urinating, he asked. Recent events had highlighted the need for a debate on the future of sport.
The English Football Association said Paul Gascoigne could smoke during the forthcoming World Cup soccer tournament. He could beat his wife and he could play football for England. Was this professional sport? Alan Shearer had been seen by 25 million television viewers kicking an opponent, but he had not been dismissed from the international side.
The English Rugby Football Union had decided that a player who had been seen biting an opponent's head should not be sidelined because the victim had not been able to recall being bitten.
Mr Lanigan said elite Irish athletes were being paid extra money by the Government but none of their agents came from Ireland so the taxpayer was paying 20 per cent of the money for these athletes into the hands of their agents. Should this be so, he wondered.
It should be decided if so-called professional sport should continue in the way it had been or whether professionalism should be eliminated and returned to what had preceded it.
RTE presenter Pat Kenny was accused of insulting women suffering from infertility. Mr David Norris (Ind) said Mr Kenny deserved the strongest criticism for seeking to define a real woman as someone having the capacity to bear a child. This was a remarkable rebuke to infertile women.
Mr Norris prefaced his remarks by saying that even while other members had congratulated the Republic's under-16 soccer team for its international success, he would restrain himself from conveying congratulations to the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Dana International, of Israel.
Ms Therese Ridge (FG) asked if the appropriate minister could provide information on what had allegedly happened in the case of the 11-year-old gypsy girl who had been apparently forced into a marriage with another member of the refugee community at present living in this country. What safeguards were there that a marriage involving such a young person could not take place here? To be wed at 11 years against one's will must surely be totally unconstitutional.
Mr Shane Ross (Ind) suggested that the Taoiseach should consider apologising for the hurt caused to the victims of the Balcombe Street gang for the scenes at the weekend Sinn Fein Ardfheis. The Northern Dr Mowlam, had taken such a course, he said. Moderate opinion on the unionist side in Northern Ireland was now tending towards the No side in next week's referendum because of the appalling scenes at the ardfheis. Ms Helen Keogh (PD) said she was sure all members were horrified at the scenes of triumphalism that had been witnessed.
Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind) asked the Leader if he would convey appreciation to the Taoiseach for the humanity, the sensitivity and the dignity of his statement about victims in response to the report issued yesterday by Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. He was glad the Taoiseach had recognised the plight of victims in the Northern jurisdiction and he hoped whatever practical methods were developed to help victims there were replicated to the extent that they could also be undertaken in the South.