Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I presume that discomfort gave rise to the point of order and the call for a quorum to disrupt me from saying what I have to say. We as a country have a duty to combat international terrorism. This Bill may help us in that cause. It could have or may have a particular application in regard to the Colombia three if the current extradition proceedings, bearing in mind that we do not have an extradition treaty or otherwise, are not successful. In that event I will be asking the Government to consult with the Government of Colombia as to how this Bill, when enacted, can provide the solution to dealing with those particular people. That could involve having Colombia accede to the relevant Council of Europe convention and adopting the process itself. The Bill and the protocol provide that the provisions will apply to sentences imposed either before or after the entry into force of the Act. This may represent the first useful function to which the Bill will be put when it is enacted into law.

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