David Norris (Independent)

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, undermined the senior professional body dealing with computer science by rubbishing it as a flat-earther and anti-globalisation protestor. If it is claimed that Ireland has the most wonderful electronic industry, why was the contract given to one Dutchman? It seems bizarre that there was no confidence in our own industry to produce this type of voting machine.

It is now more essential than ever to have a debate on the Iraqi situation. We must continue to expose the hypocrisy of the United States and Britain. Mr. Rumsfeld affected to be shocked that American soldiers could torture. We all knew this was happening. He defended similar actions in Guantanamo Bay. Perhaps his excuse is "We export torture". We know this is what has been happening. It has been authoritatively reported in The Washington Post and The Guardian. It was never denied that the USA had been exporting those people whom it could not sufficiently maltreat to places such as Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. We should expose this hypocrisy. I am old enough to remember that within the past 15 years——