Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

May I use this opportunity to congratulate all of those involved in brokering a deal in Derry over the past 24 hours between the Orange Order, the Apprentice Boys and the Bogside residents? The deal was largely brokered by the Derry Chamber of Commerce and is a model to which all of the contentious parades in Northern Ireland should accede. We owe our congratulations to the chamber of commerce and the people of Derry who, over many years, have tried to resolve their difficulties by sitting down, meeting people and working out some kind of compromise. Derry is a kind of model city inNorthern Ireland where power-sharing has worked for many years, thanks to the influence of the SDLP and others. The kind of deal that was done there in the past 24 hours is helpful.

I welcome what the Taoiseach said in the other House yesterday about the potential of a new IRA statement. It is clear that Senators will not have an opportunity to discuss such a statement in detail if it is issued while the House is in recess. Can the Deputy Leader indicate whether time will be set aside for a debate on Northern Ireland issues when the House meets again in September? It is important that the House should consider all these matters in greater detail. The people of this country are interested in more than statements or mere words — they want concrete action. They would like the entire apparatus of the paramilitary organisations to be wound down. They do not want such organisations to continue to exist as commemorative organisations. The IRA and other organisations have nothing to commemorate, other than horror and destruction on this island. It is important that the House should debate the matter in the autumn.

I welcome Senator Bradford's comments yesterday about the problems which have emerged in Zimbabwe in recent years. I think it is an issue we need to address. The strong-arm tactics of President Mugabe, such as the outrageous attacks on the legitimate opposition in Zimbabwe, were highlighted recently by a British MP, Kate Hoey, who visited the country. RTE also did some great work by taking some television footage from Zimbabwe. The South African authorities, including that country's President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, need to explain why they have refused to condemn the actions of the Zimbabwean dictator in recent months.