Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

The cartoon in a Danish newspaper which satirised the prophet and upset the Muslim community has galvanised the world. The sad aspect is that Denmark is possibly one of the most peace-loving countries in the world. It has a population of 300,000 Muslims and embraces many people who came from Bosnia and Afghanistan after the turbulence in those countries, and from Turkey.

It is ironic that the Muslim community is setting fire to embassies around the world because in Europe freedom of expression has always been valued. That freedom of expression led many European countries to condemn the war in Iraq. Christians and Christian symbols have been lampooned and satirised over many years yet there has been no similar reaction from the Christian community. If anything, such attacks have enhanced the value of our religion.

We would have a viewpoint on whether the cartoons should be published if they are inflammatory, but our way of expressing it should be contrasted with the activities of those within the Muslim community who have been involved in the beheading of people who were kidnapped and the suicide bombing of innocent people in the name of Islam. I find such activities difficult to reconcile with what is happening in Denmark and to Danish embassies.

Palestine is respected in this House and we have supported the position of the Palestinians. Palestine is bankrolled by most European countries and if that bankrolling stopped, Palestine would be in a serious financial situation. Many of the people who are protesting in those communities may not have seen the cartoon. There has been a balanced contribution from the Muslim community in this country but the way others have reacted is unnecessary and it behoves us to condemn what is happening.