SEANAD REPORT:STRONG CONCERNS were expressed on both sides of the House over the plight of a Nigerian woman and her two daughters who are facing the prospect of deportation.

It would take a tear from a stone, watching television coverage of the human hurt and the appalling circumstances which Pamela Izevbekhai found herself in, Seanad leader Donie Cassidy said. Ireland had always been proud of its stance on humanitarian issues and it was his hope that there would be a positive outcome for this unfortunate mother of two beautiful young girls, who was experiencing this terribly distressful time.

Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, said she was disturbed that the risk of female genital mutilation was not considered an adequate reason by Irish courts for a family to be allowed to remain here.

"The barbaric idea that two young girls could be subjected to this awful practice and that Ireland does not intervene, I believe, is not reflecting the will of the vast majority of people in this country who want to see Pamela Izevbekhai being allowed to stay in this country with her two children."

David Norris (Ind) said that Ireland had received a well-deserved slap in the face from the European Court of Human Rights. As someone who had contributed to debates on immigration matters over many years, he believed no legislator had wanted anyone to have to face this kind of predicament.

Ivana Bacik (Ind) called for a debate on the issue of female genital mutilation as a ground for asylum seekers to be allowed to remain here. She thought that all senators should be concerned that this deportation would have been allowed under Irish law except for the welcome intervention of the European Court.

Fidelma Healy Eames (FG) said she had been appalled at the court decision.

Ivana Bacik (Ind) said that as a woman, she was concerned at the strange fetishisation of the human embryo and she was rather uncomfortable about the apparent obsession with women's reproductive capacity displayed by some members of the House.

Referring to the announcement by Ronan Mullen (Ind) that he hoped to introduce a Bill in the House today for the protection of human embryos in terms of stem cell research, Ms Bacik said she did not think she would be supporting it, but she looks forward to those Government members who had expressed backing for the proposed legislation, crossing the floor and putting their money where their mouths were.

Labhrás Ó Murchú (FF) complimented Mr Mullen on his initiative in bringing a Bill forward. If it provided an opportunity for a more detailed debate on the issues involved in this area of research, it would have served its purpose, he believed.

A vote on an amendment to the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Bill was carried by a margin of just two, leading to a complaint by Mr Cassidy that the division bells had not been heard in parts of Leinster House.

Among those joining in the complaint was Shane Ross (Ind). The vote was retaken and the Government had a majority of five.