David Norris (Independent)

I could not speak more directly on the Order of Business. This is the tenth anniversary of the murder by the Nigerian authorities of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists who were protesting against the environmental devastation of the region by Shell Oil. I was a member of the foreign affairs committee when Des O'Malley was Chairman, and he was a good Chairman. When we planned to visit Nigeria the Nigerian authorities told us to apply through Shell for a visa. In the case of the Corrib gas pipeline and the Shell to Sea people we have again been lickspittling. We must examine operations such as Shell, which has devastated the environment. While it has a cosmetic campaign of environmentally friendly advertisements and invests in organisations such as National Geographic, it is a dangerous company.

I agree with Senator O'Toole about building industry standards, which this House should examine. To balance that, I am proud of the 700 Irish building workers and Niall Mellon who went to South Africa at their own expense to build houses in the townships for the South African deprived.