Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I welcome the International Criminal Court Bill 2003. I find it hard to understand why it has taken so long to bring the Bill to the Seanad. As Senators have said, the statute of the International Criminal Court concluded in July 1998. We had a referendum in 2001 and the Constitution was amended in 2002. This Bill, which was published in 2003, was debated on Second Stage in the Dáil in May 2004 and on Committee Stage in the Dáil more than a year after that. It has taken more than two years for the Bill to move from Second Stage in the Dáil to Second Stage in the Seanad. I find it hard to understand why such delays were necessary. I propose to tease out some of the issues arising from this Bill on Committee Stage, as appropriate.

I join other Senators in referring to the United States of America's refusal to recognise the International Criminal Court. Senator Kett mentioned that the US has asked countries like East Timor to declare their support for the US position if they wish to receive aid from that country. A couple of speakers highlighted our support for the US. We should make our support for the US and our relationship with that country conditional on its signing up to the International Criminal Court. Tomorrow evening, the House will debate the problems with Ireland's policy on extraordinary rendition flights, which is an issue that was highlighted in a recent report prepared by the Council of Europe. It is very disingenuous of the Taoiseach to say things like "show me the evidence". It is quite obvious and logical that the Council of Europe means that Ireland is not doing its basic duty as a democratic country, which is to vindicate human rights — and the various conventions on human rights to which it has signed up — by putting in place certain practices and procedures relating to the use of its airspace by foreign aircraft, etc. Ireland is colluding with the US by failing to put in place the procedures which should be in place. If Ireland and other European countries do not stand up to the US on issues like the recognition of the International Criminal Court and the continuation of extraordinary rendition flights through our airspace, it will not be a surprise if the US continues to rest on its reputation of being a democracy and having good relationships with European countries.

That is all I would like to say on the International Criminal Court Bill 2003 at this stage. As I have said, I will tease out the various issues on Committee Stage.