Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I wish to share my time with Senator O'Rourke. Like other speakers, I commend Senator Norris for the manner in which he keeps this issue at the top of the agenda and thank him for his excellent contribution.

It has been outlined to the House just exactly how high up on the agenda of the Government, in its Presidency of the European Union, and the European Union is the issue of the trouble in the Middle East. The Minister conveyed this in a very eloquent way.

Last May, I had the opportunity and wonderful privilege of chairing a debate in the Merrion Hotel in Dublin. On the platform with me that night were His Excellency, Daniel Megiddo, the Israeli ambassador, Dr. Ali Halimeh, the Palestinian Delegate General to Ireland, who I am delighted to see is present this evening, and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Tom Kitt, who was representing the Government. The Minster of State gave a very lengthy contribution, similar to a position paper, on where the Irish Government stood on the conflict in the Middle East. I was heartened by the frankness of the debate that took place that night. The debate lasted for almost four hours and it was incredible to obtain insight from people on both sides in the conflict who were personally affected by it. What came across so clearly to me was the huge desire for peace, almost at any cost. Those affected need peace so badly.

Also in the audience that night were people representing——