Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Yes. There is a great tendency to employ such consultants, and we could show the Dáil how to deal with legislation in a reasonably efficient fashion. It clearly needs some guidance from somewhere. Three Dáil Bills are listed on the Order Paper today. One is delayed because other people cannot deal with it. That is the Interpretation Bill 2000. I suppose we are lucky it does not date from the last century.

I wish to draw an extraordinary matter to the attention of the House. What sounds like a very impressive ceremony was promised for next Friday, in which Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam from Sudan was to be the first recipient of the Front Line award for human rights activists. He has been very active in the campaign for human rights in the Sudan. He was due to fly to Dublin last Sunday but was arrested a few hours before his flight. He was due to be presented with his award by Uachtarán na hÉireann on Friday next. I believe his arrest was a deliberate attempt to withdraw him from international debate. This man has been active on the appalling scandal of Darfur and deserves our support. Will the Leader consider proposing an all-party motion from the House, to be passed without debate so we will not take up time, calling for his immediate release and asking that he be allowed to travel to Ireland to receive this award?