Mary White (Fianna Fail)

Some weeks ago I asked the Leader to arrange for a debate on human rights, as it is a key priority of the Government's EU Presidency. Yesterday evening the O'Brien family, which has 13 children, was moved as it was accused of parking illegally on a site in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. We need a debate on Travellers. Their life expectancy is ten to 12 years lower than the national average and there are twice as many stillbirths. This issue is dear to my heart.

Amnesty International gave us a document entitled, Human Rights Beginning at Home, which focuses on the EU and the broader international scene. I was in Colombia two weeks ago where I met the vice-president of Colombia and the EU Presidency representative, the Dutch ambassador. The MEP, Niall Andrews, categorically stated that he was putting his reputation on the line by saying that the three men are innocent of the accusations. The Members who were sneering here this morning at the three Irish citizens incarcerated in Colombia are inhuman. The two people who were sneering this morning do not believe in the presumption of innocence. It is absolutely appalling.