David Norris (Independent)

I welcome the clarification. The fact that Fine Gael has chosen this issue for Private Members' Business clearly indicates why that party is in Opposition. We are on the verge of what could be a world war, but both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil feel that events involving rugby in Connacht are most worthy of discussion. I completely disagree. If one considers the way the two principal parties have treated Private Members' Business, it is about time they surrendered their rights in this area to the Independent group, which treats it seriously. The Government and Fine Gael deal with all kinds of extraneous matters and rubbish in their Private Members' time. That shows it is not taken seriously.

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business in the spirit of what has been said. Senator Brian Hayes referred to United States aggression against Iraq and he is perfectly correct to do so. Why did he then proceed to talk about creeping anti-Americanism? It is perfectly reasonable to be against aggression. I am against aggression—