Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

The American Supreme Court decision is a landmark for the whole world. We can sympathise to an extent with the knee-jerk reaction of the American Administration following the terrible tragedy of 11 September when thousands of innocent lives were wiped out, but many commentators across the world have made it clear that international law was being ignored in Guantanamo Bay and those who ignore international law give excuses to other groups to do the same thing. That is precisely what happened and the world is a more dangerous place as a result.

I would be surprised if the US President and his Administration ignore this ruling. When he came under pressure from Europe in recent weeks, it was quite clear he was particularly uncomfortable because of the distraction it creates for America on so many other fronts. It is to the credit of this House that, in spite of our heavy schedule, we never lost an opportunity, even when it was unpopular, to press home these points. Some people might suggest it is like The Skibbereen Eagle keeping an eye on the Czar but I do not think so, what we say here is noted and we should continue to do that while regarding ourselves as a sister nation of America. That was never in question.

I am glad Senator O'Toole has raised alcohol abuse. It is such a pity that although we know the damage alcohol abuse is causing, it appears on the radar for a short time before disappearing again. On Wednesday of next week, the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will launch a report on the abuse of alcohol. When we were preparing this report, two diverse groups were present at the same time — the vintners and the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. It was interesting to find near unanimity among those groups on their abhorrence of the abuse of alcohol, binge drinking and the anti-social behaviour that flows from it.

The reason for this reaction from the two groups is because this problem is ruining lives, not only of young people but of people who are at the receiving end of that anti-social behaviour. As we listen each day to news of people being killed and assassinated, which perhaps to some extent is related to drugs, in fairness one cannot remove the abuse of alcohol from those same occurrences. I am glad the matter keeps coming up in this House week after week. I hope we will be more focussed and serious about it in the future.