David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I suggest that it do that because Ms Ní Chonaill started off talking about an armada of boats. This armada of boats, if I can put it to the witness, with respect, is because of the horrific situation in Syria and across north Africa and further south. People are driven because of race, religion or otherwise to try and survive with their lives in many instances. Their choice would probably be not to leave their homelands but if they do not they may be massacred and slaughtered. They come to the Mediterranean and many have died. More have been rescued. I put it to the witness that she herself mentioned an armada across the Mediterranean, so I suggest that she probably did discuss it. She uses those terms and likens it to a military attack. I wonder whether putting the two together - military attack and illegal immigration - is a little bit strong. I would suggest to the witness that when people are coming across on boats that may sink at any time, leading to the deaths of many hundreds of men, women and children, I do not believe it is fair to liken it to a military attack, which is a different type of armada, something like the Spanish Armada, which failed, or the Second World War armada which crossed the English Channel.

Some of the language Ms Ní Chonaill is using might not help the cause she is presenting.