David Norris (Independent)

I join with other Senators in expressing horror and revulsion at the massacre in Madrid. I heard on the radio on my way here that there are 125 dead and the number is rising. I had intended to raise the excellent point raised by Senator Ryan. In the other House there are representatives of Sinn Féin, which has an armed wing, the IRA. I would very much like to hear them now condemn their former allies, members of which were honoured guests at the time when they were also committing these atrocities at their Ard-Fheiseanna.

I would like also to comment on the proposal of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell. He is being treated a little unfairly, because the masters of the hospitals visited him. One does not visit the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to ask for extra funding in the health area. The reason one goes to such a Minister is to seek some amendment in the law. I speak as someone who has consistently supported the rights of asylum seekers, immigrants, and various people, so I do not believe I could be accused of being racist. Again, I would like to hear Sinn Féin people speak on this because they represent areas where it is not politically advantageous for them to take an honourable stand. Let them come out on the race issue as well. However, it is not humanly good for people to place their unborn children at risk by flying into this country when they are almost in labour. That is wrong and the matter should be examined.

A matter I have raised previously and on which I have again requested a debate in the area of foreign affairs is the dreadful situation in which we are placed by American action. Within about 24 hours of their arrival in Britain four or five people, who were supposed to be world terrorists threatening the entire planet, were released. They were kept in cages, tortured, denied their human, legal and civil rights. Does the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, still propose to travel to Kerry in early summer to lick George Bush's backside in these circumstances?