David Norris (Independent)

I thank Senator Brian Hayes for taking up the torch regarding the Abbey Theatre, a matter that is consistently overlooked. His support is welcome and I think there is also support on the other side of the House. I want the theatre to stay on its historic site but if it is not possible, I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that it should stay on the northside and be built on the Carlton cinema site. I imagine the Taoiseach wishes something similar.

I welcome the visit of President Bush. It presents a glorious opportunity to those of us who disagree with his policies to make that clear in a dignified, peaceful way. There is plenty about which to protest, not only Iraq because they are now going into Haiti. In Iraq, they said they got it wrong but that at least they deposed a tyrant. In Haiti, they have put out somebody who was democratically elected but who was undermined by the church because he was a priest and by the Americans because he was seen as left wing. Let us discuss that issue. We are not guiltless ourselves. Only last week, in a fit of enthusiasm, we decided to appoint an ambassador to Burma. Let us discuss that as well and take the beam out of our own eye.

I am not proposing a formal vote of sympathy — perhaps that will done tomorrow — but as a Member of the House, I was shocked to hear of the death of Cormac McAnallen. I rarely go to Croke Park but I attended a match in which he played extremely well. I remembered his name because it was an unusual one. It is sad that a young man like that has died at that age.