David Norris (Independent)

This is the first opportunity I have had to welcome Ms Jody Blake back to the House. I am delighted to see her in full health and back with us.

I agree with the leader of Fine Gael, Senator Brian Hayes, in the expression of his concern about the seriousness of subversive groups gathering information about the movements of Members of the Oireachtas. In the past, this has always had very dangerous and serious implications in, for example, Northern Ireland and Britain. It is regrettable and it would be a good idea for a committee of the House to look into this. Free and unimpeded access and movement for Members of the Oireachtas in pursuit of their duties are at the very heart of democracy. It would be very dangerous if this were threatened so I support Senator Hayes in this matter.

With regard to the watches, this type of thing is more or less inevitable. This is what happens as we move from a commitment to semi-State bodies to the market. In business, I am afraid, one gets this type of occurrence and we seem to be moving away from the commitment to the semi-State towards more entrepreneurial ways of dealing with these organisations.

I ask for a debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the involvement of the United States in Iraq, the continued killing and injuring of civilians, the alleged precision bombing which often hits women and children and the continuing worrying situation in Israel and Palestine with the incursions into the northern Gaza Strip.

Human rights are being violated in the Middle East. I have had contact over the last couple of weeks with people in south Hebron, about whose situation we hear nothing. It was described in detail to me and it is a direct parallel, only much worse, of the situation that obtained with the school children in Holy Cross convent in Belfast. Children are being terrified and attacked by settlers armed with bats and daggers while the police stand idly by. Conscientious, decent Israeli Jewish people who are trying to act as a buffer are also being attacked while the police stand by doing nothing. I would be grateful for a debate on this issue.

I agree strongly with what the Cathaoirleach said about the discourtesy of Members leaving during the Leader's reply. I have had to do this on occasion to attend committee meetings, to which the Cathaoirleach also referred, and I have always tried to go over to her and explain. Time and again I have pointed to the disrespect shown to this House by almost all the committees which treat us in a cavalier fashion and which do not take into account that the Order of Business is one of the most important times in this House. The Cathaoirleach and the Leader should make representations to all the committees to stop this practice. One way to stop it, which I have suggested previously, would be the refusal of Senators to attend committee meetings until the Order of Business is over. Those meetings would then not obtain a quorum and could not meet. That would be one way of putting manners on the committee organisers and I recommend it strongly. As I speak, I am supposed to be attending or be represented by my able colleague, Senator Ross, at the Joint Committee on Transport. However, I cannot be there because of the Order of Business.