Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

If a humanitarian attitude were adopted, it might allow an opportunity to remark on the measures needed to alleviate some of the suffering in Falluja. However, I will not comment on that matter at this stage.

I understand Deputy Kenny's reasons for seeking a debate on Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach stated that he would keep in touch with the party leaders. Will he make a formal arrangement in terms of engaging the parties in Opposition which have their own contacts and which may wish to make suggestions that would be helpful but which have no other means of putting forward such suggestions than by seeking a debate? As the Taoiseach stated, such a debate would be quite public in nature. Will he acknowledge that it is far from acceptable for this to be the only means by which Opposition parties can engage in matters of continued mutual interest relating to developments in Northern Ireland and that there should be another way of dealing, in a bilateral or multilateral way, with parties in Opposition? Will the Taoiseach take that on board, particularly as he stated that a debate might not be appropriate?

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