Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

As I was not here yesterday, perhaps the Ceann Comhairle will permit me to condemn outright the brutal killing of a member of the police service in Northern Ireland and to say that the ordinary people of Omagh and the North must stand united against this atrocity and those who would drag society back to sectarian conflict. People should support the Irish Congress of Trade Unions rally today in Belfast.

Will the Tánaiste condemn outright the sick jokes made by members of the Garda Síochána in regard to the infliction of sexual violence on the women in their custody? The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, when asked about this on radio this morning spoke of the economic benefits of the Corrib gas and could only find words of condemnation for those who object to giving our natural resources for nothing to multinational corporations, which condemnation includes the two women, the subject of these disgusting remarks, who were in Mayo to protest against the policies of this Government and the previous Administration in regard to Corrib. Perhaps the Tánaiste will educate the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, that there are no more economic benefits from Corrib gas than if it were coming from Norway because Fianna Fáil gave it away - it was worth €10 billion - to Shell Oil for not one cent.

Will the Tánaiste agree that the sinister remarks by certain gardaí in regard to sexual violence against women are reminiscent of a hostile occupation force against a civilian population? Does he have any words of condemnation for the persistent and heavy-handed repression by certain sections of the Garda over years in Erris and by a private security firm paid for by Shell, which has acted like an army occupation and repressed the local population and their right to protest against something which they believe is a danger to their health and safety? Will this Government slavishly follow Fianna Fáil policy on this issue, as it has done on the banking issue or will it at least tear up the rotten deals signed by Fianna Fáil with multinational corporations, resulting in giving away our resources for nothing. The Labour Party will recall its involvement 30 years ago in the resources protection campaign at which time it believed those resources should be in the ownership of the people of Ireland only.

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