Mary Henry (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill, to which Senator Terry has given careful consideration. I look forward to hearing the answers to her questions.

I welcome the Bill as an effort to highlight the fact that criminals should be dealt with through the rule of law, not the rule of force. We have come to a bad stage in world history. In recent months we have seen an attempt to use the rule of military force rather than the rule of law to deal with terrorism, the disastrous and foreseeable consequences of which we can now see.

The invasion of Afghanistan led to nothing other than an increase in the production of drugs in that region. Apart from trafficking in human beings, drugs are apparently the most lucrative business nowadays. To see it promoted is truly dreadful. Unfortunately, all countries, including Ireland, will have to take account of trafficking in human beings, as people are being brought through this country to get to more lucrative markets in other parts of Europe. Anything that will encourage co-operation between police forces to prevent this appalling practice must be applauded.