John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I join the call for a debate on the Middle East as someone who would have freely voted for George Bush – I would be in a minority in the House in that regard – if given the opportunity. It is disquieting, having accepted the view that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, to find there are apparently no such weapons. This leads to a situation where we should debate Ireland's role in a UN force. I recollect wise heads in this House counselling against war and giving good reasons against it. In my case, I accepted that there were weapons of mass destruction.

On the Palestinian and Israeli question, it is also disquieting that the situation appears to be intractable. No serious efforts are being made, other than tit for tat violence which is having a terrible effect on that region.