Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I think I heard the Taoiseach correctly when he said that when he met the Chinese Vice-Premier, human rights were not specifically on the agenda. Coincidentally, at the time of his visit Amnesty International issued a report. Is it not strange therefore that at such a time human rights would not have been on the agenda, particularly the repression of Christians, Muslims, Falun Gong and various other people in China? Is there some reason we are not as strong on human rights as we should be with the Chinese Government?

In the informal EU Council talks involving a meeting with the Russian Prime Minister, Mr. Putin, the Taoiseach mentioned that it was very important to have a secure energy supply. What does this mean? Given we are so dependent on gas coming from Russia, does this mean he is looking to the day when we will not have to depend on it? Perhaps the Minister with responsibility for energy can have a word in the Taoiseach's ear on that as he is beside him. The current target of 20% of our energy from renewables by 2020 is certainly a long way from energy security.

I had intended asking the Taoiseach about the unfortunate Russian journalist who was killed, but Deputy Rabbitte has already done so. I will move on to the Taoiseach's planned visits for 2007. He may know about the Lancet figures of over 600,000 people who have died in Iraq as a result of the decision to invade that country. Does he have any plans to visit Iraq to see and assess the effects of Government policy vis-À-vis, for example, the use of Shannon to facilitate the invasion and whether——

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