Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I benefit from Senator O'Toole's efforts as much as anybody else. I apologise, a Chathaoirligh. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that we devote the first two hours of today's business to a debate on the Government's decision to allow the use of Shannon Airport for the transit of US munitions to the Middle East. The country is in a state of confusion as to the public position on the matter. Until last week it was one of "denial, denial, denial", yet suddenly it has changed to one of "permission, permission, permission", which is not coherent.

In the context of Iraq, will the Leader find out the reason the Containment of Nuclear Weapons Bill 2000, which was passed in this House nearly three years ago, has still not passed through the other House? Given current concerns about weapons of mass destruction, the least we could do is meet our international obligations by passing the legislation. This House did its job. Perhaps the Leader will find out the reason legislation we all agreed was good has not been passed in the other House.