Dáil debates

Tuesday, 1 June 2004

2:30 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Will the Taoiseach outline when it is intended to circulate a new draft of the proposed constitution, incorporating any changes that have been agreed? How long in advance of the summit does he expect it to be circulated?

I am astounded that Deputy Joe Higgins refers to the use of a false passport as a minor charge. It is appalling that, while it is right and proper that the Government of the day would be concerned about the safety and health of our citizens abroad, the Taoiseach can give a guarantee to the President of Colombia, with whose country Ireland does not have extradition arrangements, of the return of three persons who have been convicted of using false passports when entering Colombia. Is the Taoiseach making this unique arrangement on the basis that these are Irish citizens or that they are members of Sinn Féin? Sinn Féin denied that one of these persons was its representative in Cuba.

The Minister for Defence is giving the Taoiseach advice as I speak but has the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform given his imprimatur to the Taoiseach's proposal that a guarantee can be given to the president of another country of the return to that country of three Irish citizens who have been convicted of using false passports? What is the nature of this guarantee? The Irish people were given a guarantee that the killers of Detective Garda McCabe would serve their time but, according to reports, some type of deal was done last October.

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