David Norris (Independent)

I join my colleagues in condemning the abuses evident in the pictures emerging from Iraq. As the House knows, I have been raising these issues for a long time and a considerable majority from all sides of the House feels the same as I do. The matter goes right to the top. If one has a commander in chief who openly states his intention to flout morality and international law and suspend the Geneva Conventions, what can one expect of ordinary soldiers? Many have complained about the images, which are very shocking, but the reality is what really must shock us. The images are only a photographic reflection of what is actually being done on the ground.

I extend my sympathy to the grieving family of the young man who was beheaded. I am sure everybody feels the same about this matter. The man's death was horrifying. He was a contractor. "Contractor" is a word that is attracting sinister connotations because the American Government has been found to contract out torture. It is a disgrace and as bad as anything that happened in the Second World War.

What interested me was what was said by the family of the beheaded man. It accused the American authorities of precisely the same practice to which I referred yesterday and regarding which I handed over documentation to the Leader of the House, namely, the illegal seizure of people and their detention in incorrect circumstances. A report in today's The Irish Times states the man's father "criticised the US military and Bush administration, saying his son might still be alive had he not been detained by US officials in Iraq without being charged and without access to a lawyer". I am very sorry to say this is what one gets when criminality reaches the top branch of the Executive. I hope the Taoiseach, urged on by this House, will raise these matters as an issue of priority.

I return to the question of the banks and the rights of their customers, which the House has been considering. I am concerned about the related issue of the frequent advertisements for shared home investment plans, SHIPs. People over 70 are being urged to surrender a significant part of the equity of their homes in return for a cash grant. There should be a health warning with these plans. I am concerned that elderly people could be persuaded by the soft selling of the banks to give away part of their homes, which could result in them finding themselves in difficulty later on.

I am sorry I did not speak before my colleague, Senator O'Toole, because I am sure he would have a view on the matter I am about to raise. Could we have a discussion in the House on the compensation culture, which is growing? We have had deaf soldiers and, apparently, we are now about to have dumb teachers because they over-use their voices. Their voices become exhausted from talking to and reprimanding students.