David Norris (Independent)

I am grateful to Senator Brian Hayes for raising the matter of knife attacks and also to Senator Ormonde for calling for a wider debate. This is a very serious subject because it is so insidious. In the interview I heard, the Garda inspector said that often the people who had been stabbed did not realise how seriously they had been injured, and they managed to run away. He said that sometimes police had interviewed people who did not realise they were dying as a result of such injuries.

Sometimes the people who inflict these wounds are unaware of the fact that they are committing murder. Therefore there is a developing series of tragedies. There is the awful death of beautiful young people stabbed and done to death. Then there is the perpetrator. Often these attacks are fuelled by alcohol. There are the families on both sides who are left to deal with it. It is a serious matter and I am glad that it has been taken up so seriously by this House. I hope that we will have an opportunity to debate it and to introduce whatever amendments are necessary to deal with the carrying of knives.

I am not sure that these attacks take place frequently within nightclubs. One of the problems is people are pushed out by the nightclub proprietors on to the streets – I have warned continually over the years about this – and they do not take responsibility. They do not summon the police when there is a fracas outside and death is the result.

I ask that the House note the extraordinary development yesterday in the neighbouring island, the United Kingdom, where Mr. Blair suffered a stunning political reverse. It was the largest backbench revolt in history against the Government, during which one former Labour Cabinet Minister described the United States President's actions as the actions of "a maverick state".

In the light of these very dangerous developments and the continuing situation, I urge that this House should continue to monitor the situation and have a series of rolling debates on it. We have had a very useful, dignified and important debate on this matter, but as we go towards war the situation is changing. It is important that even a small country like this should have its voice heard. We should be questioning again our involvement in a war in which Mr. Bush made it very clear last night that he will go it alone anyway. He does not care what the United Nations says. There is a certain cosmetic element. There may be some restraint, through Mr. Blair, because of the difficulties in which the Prime Minister has found himself. I would like to think this House would play a role in this.