Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I echo the call of other Members, thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, for coming to the House and add my support to the motion. Having attended some of the Order of Business in the Dáil yesterday, I felt it extremely important that the two Houses of the Oireachtas should combine to voice an appeal for Mrs. Hassan's immediate release. Nobody who has seen her on television could fail to be moved by her fine face and demeanour as she went about her business. She clearly took the welfare of the Iraqi people to heart in her work on behalf of Care International.

Abduction is a heinous crime and, as the motion states, we condemn all instances of hostage taking. In this case in particular, it is wrong that a woman who worked constantly for the Iraqi people and had their care at the heart of her work should be so abused. One can only imagine how her husband, sister, other family members and her colleagues must feel. There is not much we can say only to add our voice to the international voices which have been raised. It is of great value that Mrs. Hassan was born in Ireland and holds Irish citizenship. Her husband is an Iraqi and she is combined with him in that citizenship. The work she has done serves to make her name an international one.

It is worrying that no information has been received as to the group responsible for her abduction and its purpose. The group responsible for the abduction and murder of Mr. Kenneth Bigley and his American colleagues claimed its purpose was to secure the release of Iraqi women prisoners. What can one say if it is the same group which has abducted Mrs. Hassan? It cuts no ice anyhow and serves no purpose. I can only imagine Mrs. Hassan going to work each day in her business-like manner, distributing care to the people of Iraq, whom she clearly loved. That work has been suspended because of this heinous crime. All Members join with the Minister, Taoiseach and Government in sending our prayers and solidarity to those who wish to secure Mrs. Hassan's release.