David Norris (Independent)

Will the Leader arrange a series of debates on Iraq? In the run-up to and early stages of the war in Iraq, the Seanad played a useful role in political life by holding a series of rolling debates during which we constantly monitored the situation. Further debates are necessary because of the assault under way in the city of Falluja. We know 100,000 civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Iraq since the beginning of the war. An estimated 50,000 civilians are trapped in the city of Falluja where three hospitals have been bombed. In the past, some bombed out hospitals have been used as operational command centres for the United States army. This is not appropriate, particularly in light of concerns expressed in the House, including by me last week when I stated the position was very dangerous, and by the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, who, having examined the matter, warned against an attack on the city. In addition, e-mails from the commander of the Black Watch regiment suggest 800 Scottish troops were moved for political rather than operational reasons and are exposed to considerable danger.

Several Senators have placed on record their concerns about sinister operations involving a United States Gulfstream jet specially adapted for the transportation to centres of torture of persons kidnapped by the United States.