David Norris (Independent)

I agree with my colleague, Senator Ryan, that we should recognise this terrible and shameful day, the fourth anniversary of the declaration of what this House has described as an illegal, immoral and unjustifiable war. The regime which made that declaration has since shown itself to be deeply criminal and shameful in terms of the way in which the values of the West have been destroyed or undermined. It is inexcusable that attempts were made to undermine the United Nations, subvert the Geneva conventions and introduce legislation to justify torture. Equally inexcusable was the depiction of this country by President Bush as having provided support. The people of Ireland did not wish that, nor did the 100,000 protestors who took to the streets of Dublin. Today, the United Nations rapporteur has pointed out the abject failure of the world to recognise the humanitarian disaster that is taking place in Iraq. I speak as somebody who consistently opposed Saddam Hussein and who went across the desert at the risk my own life to beard Tariq Aziz in his den on the subject of human rights.

We should have a debate on the health service. I have suspended criticism of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, because I believe she is a courageous woman who has put her head into the lion's mouth. However, given the events of the past few weeks, we need to debate what is clearly becoming a two-tier system. This week, a woman spoke on television about her smear test, which was delayed for six months because she was a public patient.