Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Lord O'Toole. Senator McDowell also agreed with Senator Brian Hayes, alleging that this matter was a damning indictment of the Government. The Senator raised the Commission for Africa which the UK Prime Minister has set up and which will be chaired by Bob Geldoff. It is important the Senator raised the matter as we have a significant presence there. Over many decades Ireland has made a commitment to Africa and a debate on it would be useful.

Senator Leyden referred to Mr. Tom Sweeney who is on hunger strike outside the gates of Leinster House. I went to see him last week because the Seanad raised the matter. Somebody with him asked for an ambulance, but he would not get into it. We will endeavour to find out with whom to raise this matter.

Senator Finucane referred to the Commission on Electronic Voting and castigated the Minister. Senator Ormonde congratulated the Taoiseach on the enlargement of the EU and the celebrations at the weekend. The arrangements and organisation of the programme over the Saturday and Sunday were a mammoth task. The occasion passed off well. Major concerns were raised in this House last week about possible overreaction on the security front. However, if the gardaí were not there, it would have been another matter. I thought they handled everything remarkably well. There was not much of a protest really. It was a beautiful sunny day and everybody there was glad to be involved.

Senator Norris referred to the dignity and colour of our enlargement day. He saw it from one of the countries, which in part joined the enlargement. He also commented on electronic voting and on Iraq, in particular. It is difficult to know precisely what we are being shown on television in this regard. The allegations of human rights infringements by UK forces in Iraq are apparently being examined. The Americans, however, have almost confessed to it. The crudity of the leaders themselves is being expressed further down the line——