David Norris (Independent)

I ask the Leader to find a way to move forward the Civil Partnership Bill. It is very important it is moved forward if we are to be taken seriously as legislators. The Government has procrastinated on this in an extraordinary fashion. The matter has been referred to various committees, including the Oireachtas All-Party Committee on the Constitution reviewing the family. It reported along lines very similar to the Bill before this House. There is also the Colley advisory committee. Reports in today's newspapers indicate it is very much on track with the Bill. The courts continually reprove the Oireachtas for leaving these important legislative decisions for judicial decisions. Having become the laggard of Europe in this regard, it is important we move forward.

I call for a debate on the Middle East for a particular reason. I had reason to speak to the Israeli ambassador in recent days and to bring to his attention illegal demolitions taking place in the area around south Hebron, including in the village of At-Tuwani. He attempted to be helpful but pleaded difficulties of various kinds. Yesterday I received copies of military notices indicating demolition orders. These are against the most vulnerable people, that is, Palestinian subsistence farmers living in caves. Rudimentary attempts to provide them with the most basic sanitary and water arrangements have been demolished by the Israeli army while parallel illegal Israeli settlements are accommodated and provided with water and sewerage treatment facilities. This ties in with a report in the newspapers today that 39% of these settlements not only break international law but break Israeli law as determined by the Israeli high court as far back as 1979, that is, that these settlements must not be built on land owned by Palestinians. It is important this House continues to monitor the situation.

I have come from a meeting, to which I must return, at which a presentation is being made by Mr. David Kilgour, a Member of the Canadian Parliament and a highly respected figure, on organ harvesting in China. The meeting was facilitated by Senator O'Toole and myself. It is important we take up this matter because it is appalling to think there have been 60,000 organ transplants in a situation where only a couple of thousand prisoners have been executed. Nobody in China is officially prepared to say from where these organs come. It is clear prisoners are held and their organs are harvested. Even the words used are appalling. One can order organs from people who are still alive and people will be killed to order to provide organs. This issue is important because some of the newspapers here, including the Irish Independent, have a policy of thrashing this type of material. Last week there was a disgraceful article by some little pimple in that newspaper whose name I cannot even remember who derided the Dali Lama. This House should look at what was said.

I completely agree with Senator Ryan on the need to introduce ethical constraints. It is only fair, for example, to those who govern the National Pensions Reserve Fund. If they are charged with making as much money as possible, then they could be held accountable if they do not invest in dubious enterprises. I have been in contact with the Sudan divestment group and I had a very useful meeting on this issue last week with the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan. He indicated the issue is being looked at and that there is a United Nations protocol advising on it, although it is not mandatory. The Green Party has legislation before the other House in that regard. I am co-operating in the introduction of a protocol seeking ethical considerations in terms investments, as I am sure will Senator Ryan and other Members. I believe there will be all-party agreement on this issue.