Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

David Dunseith is one of the most respected political commentators in Northern Ireland and was interviewed on RTE a few days ago. He made the point that for the first time there had been fewer telephone calls from listeners to his daily radio programme about the peace process initiative than on previous occasions. I hope complacency has not set in and that there will be an acknowledgement of how far we have come in the peace process since the IRA ceasefire of 1994. As other speakers have said, we are now hanging on to a thread.

Modest man that he is, our friend and colleague, Senator Maurice Hayes, would not be the first to ask anybody to read his opinion column in this morning's Irish Independent but it should be required reading and should be sent to the participants in the Northern Ireland peace process. In the context of the photograph, the one aspect of his column which stood out was that there does not seem to have been any recognition of technological advancement in this digital age where a photograph could be taken and its provenance questioned. This highlights the absurdity of insisting on a photograph. I caution that until we hear this afternoon the detail of what was on offer, we must withhold comment. I share the view of my colleague, Senator Dardis, and ask the Leader to consider a short debate before Christmas on this issue, simply because it is important that it is kept in the public mind.

Like many Members on all sides of the House, I support the concept of the European Union in its pursuit of peace, prosperity and human rights. I was appalled to learn that a move has been initiated by France and Germany to end the embargo on selling arms to China, despite its appalling human rights record. I ask the Leader to convey what I believe to be the abhorrence of most people in this country who think of these things, that at a time when the Irish people are being asked to endorse the constitutional treaty and many of the positive aspects of the European Union — which I and many others constantly highlight — this initiative, if it is to be proceeded with, underlines the view that perhaps there is a military agenda at the heart of the European Union.