Seanad Report: An all-party Seanad motion was adopted calling on the Government of Sudan to release immediately Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam and to allow him to travel to Ireland in time to receive the Frontline award for his work on human rights in Sudan from President McAleese tomorrow.
Brendan Ryan (Lab), who suggested that such a motion be passed, said one of the issues Dr Mudawi had been active on was the appalling "scandal" of Darfur.
David Norris (Ind) said that the arrest of this human rights activist "constituted an insult to our President".
Labhras Ó Murchu (FF) described Dr Mudawi as an icon of free speech and human rights.
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The leader of the House, Mary O'Rourke, said she thought that in his address to the Church of Ireland Synod earlier this week, the Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames had really been saying that mothers should stay at home. I don't agree with that," said Mrs O'Rourke.
Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) had earlier called for a debate on childcare in the light of the Archbishop's remarks about pressures on parents that those living in the Victorian era would not have tolerated.
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The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Séamus Brennan, said he could not see any mandatory pension system emerging in which the State did not play a fairly central role. At this point he had an open mind on the matter and he wanted the Pensions Board to examine the prospects.
Opening a debate on the ESRI Report on Pensioners Incomes and Replacement Rates in 2000, Mr Brennan said that if left unchecked, the pension problem could have alarming consequences in the future.