Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I wish to refer to the pictures emerging from Iraq of abuses of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers and the allegations in the Red Cross report of abuses of Iraqi civilians by British soldiers. The latest image, to be seen in the newspapers today, is of a US civilian being beheaded by representatives of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Apparently, he was detained at one stage by US-backed Iraqi police and his parents feel this played a role in his eventual death. This war has turned out to be a bad mess and a mistake on the part of the United States and the United Kingdom. I hope people remember that the Government did not take a sufficiently strong stand against these countries regarding this war.

I noticed yesterday that the UN Under-Secretary General was in Ireland to lay a wreath at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, to commemorate the Irish men and women who died on UN service. He said Ireland comes top of the league in terms of peacekeeping roles and he also mentioned there may be a UN role in peacekeeping in Iraq. I hope Ireland assumes this kind of role and passes on its expertise in policing. Will the Leader invite the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the House to discuss our role in this regard and what we can do to get Iraq out of this mess and bring about a peaceful society in that country from which everybody in the world can benefit?