Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

Over two years ago, the Government announced a serious aviation policy. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Transport to come to the House? If anything, the aviation policy is something for the future rather than the present. The chairman of Aer Rianta said his dealings with the Minister are extremely difficult and he accused him of a draconian policy in regard to Aer Rianta. The legislation providing for the break-up of Aer Rianta has been published. There are serious concerns about the viability of Shannon in the future and about Cork for the next five years. I am not sure whether that is enlightened aviation policy. There is considerable concern in the Shannon area in regard to the long-term viability of the airport if it becomes a separate entity. The programme for Government pointed out that a new terminal, pier D, would be created for the 2003 tourism season. There is still congestion at Dublin Airport and we are further away from the construction of this new terminal.

Over the weekend, the media will be dominated by the visit of President Bush. There is a close association with American investment in this country and our respect for America. We should not be prevented from expressing our serious concerns about American foreign policy objectives to the Taoiseach, as President of the European Council. We should dissociate ourselves from some of its activities, especially the torture of people which the Leader condemned. We should take into consideration what Amnesty International said recently. If the Americans are so confident that there was no torture policy — they are rushing out documents to verify that no torture policy was approved by the Pentagon — they should allow independent people to confirm whether there was, or was not, such a policy.

I would like the Taoiseach to raise with President Bush the position of thousands of Irish people who are undocumented in America. They cannot get driving licences or health care and cannot return home for a bereavement of a family member, whether it is a mother or a father. They are living in a twilight world in America. We are in a unique position on this occasion and we should appeal to the American President to do something for our people who are working in America, albeit illegally. I am sure something could be done to legalise their status.