Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Panahiazar to the meeting. I have to say the Iranian leader's comment that Israel should be wiped off the map was reprehensible, to put it mildly. I would like to hear the ambassador's views on that. It is unacceptable that the leader of a country like Iran, which has such a proud history and culture, said when addressing people at a public forum like the United Nations that an entire country and race of people who have has suffered so much should be wiped off the map. I would like the ambassador to comment on what his Government is proposing for its near neighbours.

I will comment briefly on human rights. If members of the committee go to visit the ambassador's country, we would like to see those whose names have been mentioned here. The first place we would like to go is wherever we can visit the people about whom the human rights defenders have written to us. Why are these people in prison for expressing their views on what we and the United Nations would consider to be basic human rights? My colleagues have already covered the uranium issue so I will not speak about it. I look forward to hearing what the ambassador has to say about it. I will listen to his response on the tape after I have voted.