Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I support my friend and colleague, Senator Norris, who correctly said the Pax Christi submission was made to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs earlier this week. Like him and many Members on both sides of the House, I have taken a long-standing interest in the landmine issue. The Government, through its overseas development aid programme, has contributed significantly to landmine clearance, especially in Mozambique. It is a very expensive operation but we can take pride in the fact that there is an acknowledgement, as Senator Norris so eloquently put it, of the terror and mutilation these awful cluster bombs cause.

I have written to the Leader and suggested that the motion in the names of Senator Norris and the other Independent Senators could be incorporated into a Government one and that it might be debated in Government time. There is nothing contentious in it and I suggest it supports Government policy. There may be some slight variations in Senator Norris's motion from that which I will suggest to the Leader because I believe I am right in saying his motion is based primarily on the Pax Christi recommendations put before the joint committee. I hope the Leader will respond favourably to that suggestion.

This week the Egyptian President, HosniMubarack, is making his first official visit to Ireland, which will be welcomed. Since the President has a great deal of influence in the region, the Minister for Foreign Affairs might ask him to encourage the Prime Minister of Sudan to allow a United Nations force into Darfur. Perhaps the Leader will convey the sentiments of this House in that regard to the Minister. Senator Norris spoke about the mutilation of children but, as wespeak children, women and many other innocent people are dying in the deserts of Darfur. It is an outrageous international scandal and the more pressure put on the Prime Minister of Sudan to allow a United Nations force into Darfur, the better. As the Egyptian President is in Ireland, it is an opportune time for the Leader to convey our sentiments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.