David Norris (Independent)

There are some things we can do. I support that remarkable Christian gentlemen, Bishop Willie Walsh of Killaloe, who said on radio this morning that it was inappropriate and badly timed to have President Bush here. We should withdraw the invitation. I do not believe that man should be welcomed to this country. If he does come, I will protest against the visit.

Although I am a friend of Israel and insist on remaining one, what is happening there is a disaster. War crimes are also being played out. I know Rafah quite well. It is a squalid place. A peaceful, unarmed demonstration was taking place. I heard the reports this morning that the people were deliberately walking slowly so that they would not attract fire, yet missiles, bombs and heavy machine guns were fired. I heard with horror two spokespeople — the military spokesman had, once again, an American accent — refer to it as "weeding the garden". Imagine the insensitivity of the language; killing children is "weeding the garden".

As Senator Ó Murchú said, we must stop impotently bleating in the House. There is one thing that we can do. There is a human rights protocol attached to the external association agreement of the European Union. Since we hold the Presidency of the EU, why do we not operate that and remove the special status awarded to Israel? What else is happening? If we do not recognise these actions as violations of human rights, we may as well pack up and go home.