John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I share the concerns of Senator Minihan, who raised the issue of the chain of command in Iraq. Further questions now need to be asked. What is happening in Guantanamo Bay? Did the Americans request that its allies in the Gulf, which do not have very good human rights records, take some of the prisoners, and for what purpose? From how high up in the American Administration came the request to obtain information from prisoners at any cost?

The American term for consistently overcharging is racketeering, which is a criminal offence. Perhaps people who work in the banks are not pressurised to overcharge consistently; they may overcharge only by a small amount. It may be only 60 cent, or 70 cent, but over many thousands of transactions it becomes impossible to repay. I suggest that we introduce legislation on racketeering, to which Senator Ross alluded, and remove the pressure on employees to consistently carry out what in effect are illegal acts. We might also look at how people in sales areas are pressured into reaching targets and selling products that might not suit people. The UK has looked at this area. Regarding the more important area of recompense, it would be impossible, and hugely expensive, to attempt to return individual tiny amounts. I agree with Senator Brian Hayes that a lump sum should be given to charity to compensate for what has happened.