Mary Henry (Independent)

Like Senator Ryan I have been dismayed at the manner in which the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform frequently handles visa applications. In that context, I am particularly glad to note that No. 1 on the Order Paper, in which specific procedures for admitting third country nationals for the purposes of scientific research have at last been put in place. In the past decade I have been frequently inveigled by the universities and other research bodies which were unable to bring to Ireland people from third countries who were vital to the research work being carried out here. I hope a stop has been put to that difficulty.

Together with other Senators, I congratulate the Taoiseach and all those who were involved with bringing forward the draft European constitution. Will the Leader ask the Taoiseach to do an even greater favour to us when he meets with President Bush at the weekend by telling him how frequently the issue of Guantanamo Bay is raised in this House?