Order of Business - 8th June 2006

Order of Business - 8th June 2006
Mr. Norris: I welcome what the Leader said about the adjournment of the Dáil last Friday which rendered our debate on an important matter less significant than it would otherwise have been. I pointed out at the time that by allowing the Dáil to adjourn, the constitutional position of this House was fundamentally undercut and eroded because we were established principally as a revising Chamber to oversee Government legislation and table amendments to it. Having made that clear, I welcome what the Leader has said. I agree with the Leader that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has made himself available to the House. It is a pity, however, that when the legislation was debated here there was no broadcasting of “Oireachtas Report” on RTE.
Ms O’Rourke: There is none this week either.
Mr. Norris: It happened yesterday and today also. We are constantly being chided by the media for the fact that these benches are not always full, even though they know we are in our offices, yet where are they when we want them? This is a very important matter and it did not receive the wide public dissemination it should have.
I agree with Senator Brian Hayes about the Mater Hospital site for the new national children’s hospital. We should examine this matter, which I raised yesterday. Today there have been calls by the consultants involved in various hospitals for the establishment of an international peer review. Such a review would only take three to four weeks, so it would not hold up the process. It may well be that the Mater Hospital site will still be chosen. It is a very good hospital but while it is a fine site, it may not be capable of the kind of expansion necessary in future.
The need for a debate on rendition flights was ventilated yesterday.
Ms White: Hear, hear.
Mr. Norris: The news has been announced today of the death of al-Zarqawi in Iraq. Due to the fact that I criticise rendition flights, I am sometimes seen as being an enemy of the United States and of democracy but I do not gloat over the death of anyone. However, al-Zarqawi was a person who lived by the sword and now he has died by the sword. His intervention in Iraq was not welcomed by the Iraqi people and I cannot mourn for him but I do mourn for our values. I also mourn the fact that once again, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has been totally and deliberately disingenuous.
Mr. Daly: That is not right.
Mr. Norris: He does not accept what the report says. It says quite clearly that our involvement in the process of extraordinary rendition has been confirmed.
Mr. Daly: It does not.
Mr. Norris: Nobody says there is proof that people were taken through Shannon Airport on their way to torture.
Mr. Daly: They were not taken through Shannon Airport.
Mr. Norris: We know they were taken to torture.
Mr. Daly:
Not through Ireland.
Mr. Norris:
It is now absolutely confirmed that those planes were refuelled at Shannon Airport.
Senator Marty also stated that the attitudes and behaviour of the United States in seeking to redefine torture is utterly alien to the European tradition and sensibility, and clearly contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He stated that 14 states, including Ireland, have been colluding either intentionally or negligently by turning a blind eye to what was going on.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach:
Is the Senator seeking a debate?
Mr. Norris:
Yes, I am, because a group in this House yesterday tried to dismiss the report and discredit Mr. Marty.
Mr. Glynn:
They were right.
Mr. Norris:
The editorial in The Irish Times states it “is a valuable addition to our knowledge of this whole affair and his advice on future policy is sound”. That has been echoed by the Human Rights Commission.
Mr. Daly:
It does not involve Ireland.

Mr. Norris: When will we wake up and realise a fundamental breach of human rights is taking place? I ask the Leader to secure copies of the Marty report, make them available to all Members of the House and have a full debate on the matter.
Mr. Daly: That would be welcome. It would show Ireland is not involved.
Mr. McDowell: I endorse what others have said with regard to yesterday’s proceedings reflecting on last week’s proceedings. The defence the Leader made of the Minister was well made and justified. The fault lies with the Whips in the other House. This is not the first time they have behaved in the fashion they did last Friday and it will not be the last.
It is worth making the point that we had a good debate when the Minister came to the House and spoke without interruption last Wednesday.
Ms O’Rourke: That was the earlier debate.