Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I thank the Cathaoirleach and I appreciate his support and protection from the Senator.

I ask the House to refer to the extraordinary, iconic vision of two bits of a wheelchair and a blob of blood on a Palestinian street as a recognition of how we have entered a new dimension of extra-judicial executions with targets now including political and religious leaders. It seems there is no end to this and we have opened up something to which there is no limit. Whatever the reasons for it, we can not justify internationally the killing of somebody who is a religious leader, no matter how radical or unacceptable he is — what he says is utterly unacceptable to me. We must believe in the rule of law in a democracy.

On a minor matter, we were treated to the Minister for Transport opening a brand new railway station and platforms in Dublin. It seems all trains will run better and faster with no delays. I draw to the attention of the House that the Kerry train was ten minutes late again this morning, despite ten new platforms, the spending of €117 million and the assurances given by the Minister for Transport. Maybe he has something against the people of Kerry or the Kerry trains but it is not working. We should not accept a delay of ten minutes.