Order of Business - 28th May 2008

Order of Business - 28th May 2008
Senator David Norris: I welcome the fact that Fine Gael and Fianna Fa´ il are hacking lumps
out of each other over the European treaty because it gives an opportunity for me, as practically
the lone voice in this House trying to present a reasoned argument against the Lisbon treaty,
to be heard. That is not particularly easy, especially since The Irish Times has dropped its
neutral stance and committed itself to campaigning for the treaty. It is not just Deputy Brian
Cowen who has not read the treaty but also our European Commissioner, and he thinks anybody
who tries to do so is an idiot. He said as much. People have tried to defend their positions
by saying the treaty is like the Finance Bill, about which ordinary people do not know every
detail because they have not read it. That is true but the person who presents the Finance Bill,
the Minister for Finance, certainly ought to have read it given that he wrote it. The same
applies to the Taoiseach and the European Commissioner. If they have not read the treaty,
they are not in a position to recommend it.
An Cathaoirleach: Has the Senator a question for the Leader?
Senator David Norris: I am sorry, a Chathaoirligh, you have allowed every other person to
speak, and Senator Regan is allowed to speak on this every damn day. I am virtually the
only——
An Cathaoirleach: I ask the Senator to withdraw that. I give fair play to everybody. Senator
Regan raised a matter regarding the leader of the Government and I considered what he raised
important from that point of view.
Senator Maurice Cummins: In 40 seconds.
An Cathaoirleach: It is questions for the Leader.
Senator David Norris: I am not impugning you, a Chathaoirligh, but how many other people
are allowed to put this argument? We had Mr. Po¨ ttering from the European Parliament
pottering about in here but there was an attack on Mr. Jens Peter Bonde, MEP, who was
extremely good. Can he be invited to the House to present a balanced view, since Members
have had their “Yes” person, Mr. Po¨ ttering, in the House?
An Cathaoirleach: The Senator cannot make a Second Stage speech.
Senator David Norris: We have heard a great deal of rubbish about neutrality. Fianna Fa´ il’s
neutrality was pragmatic, adopted by Mr. de Valera during the Second World War. There were
no principles whatever behind it. Fine Gael does not have a neutrality policy; it is against it.
Fine Gael would like to walk us into NATO at the first possible opportunity, but the people
of Ireland will not have it. That is the problem for the political parties.
An Cathaoirleach: Senator, please, you must put questions to the Leader.
Senator David Norris: What is the point, a Chathaoirligh? Last week, I asked the Leader a
series of questions about the European Defence Agency, the coy new name for the European
armaments group. The Leader promised to give the replies to the House or to me in writing. I
have received neither.
Senator Jerry Buttimer: The rainbow warrior.
Senator David Norris: Having jumped the gun in mentioning Mr. Po¨ ttering, I wish to return
to my request regarding the Dalai Lama. I ask the Leader for a response to my request. I have
gone through the correct etiquette in asking that an invitation issue to the Dalai Lama; I have
been doing it for six weeks. The foreign affairs committee has unanimously agreed it. I wrote
to Senator O’Toole and he presented my request to Committee on Procedure and Privileges.
The party leaders all agree with such a request, as far as I know, and the Department of
Foreign Affairs has no difficulty with it, yet I still cannot get an answer, and the gun was
jumped by one of my colleagues. What are we to do? Can I have an answer to my question
about the Dalai Lama?
Finally, it might be an impertinence on my part but, as the Leader knows, I am an impertinent
young pup, and I wish to acknowledge the presence of a distinguished colleague from the
Argentinian senate in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. He made a major and important
contribution to the debate held by parliamentarians in Buswells Hotel on the issue of landmines.
The meeting was held under the auspices of the foreign affairs committee and involved
representatives of the various parties. We made a number of recommendations. I hope that
next week, after the passage of the treaty in Croke Park, we will have an opportunity to discuss
its implications.
An Cathaoirleach: I have been more than fair to the Senator.
Senator David Norris: Yes, you have. I accept that.