Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

I commend the Army on the superb display it put on at the ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin and also at Arbour Hill. I also commend the gardaí who, on a very hot weekend, behaved coolly for the most part. Anyone who was at Arbour Hill this morning could not but have noticed the flower display, for which the gardeners deserve credit.

I ask the Leader for a debate on Iraq in view of the allegations of torture and killing by American and British soldiers. These things happened during a war. We all remember in our own country the executions of 77 republicans during the early years of the Free State and, of course, the ambush at Ballyseedy of which Paudie Fuller's father, Stephen Fuller, was the sole survivor. That does not mean we should excuse these actions or be afraid to talk about them. We should have a debate on Iraq during which we can discuss developments.