Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I would like to be associated with the fine tributes that have been paid to many Members who have inspired and motivated us to greater effort. I was pleased Senator Quinn picked out the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton. It would be ungrateful of us during the final sitting of this Seanad to fail to acknowledge the major contribution they have made in bringing us to where we are today through the peace process. We would not have celebrated, perhaps, one of the greatest achievements in the lifetime of the Seanad but for them and others who played a role in the process.

The role and effectiveness of the House have, rightly, been debated many times. Such debates give us an opportunity to reflect on whether we are happy with the work of the House. This Seanad has done particularly well. Members played a leading role on a number of major issues that were debated by questioning the wisdom, legality and morality, for example, of the invasion of Iraq and the terrible spiral of violence that was unleashed on the world. Is it not interesting that today fewer than 30% of American people believe the invasion of Iraq was correct? When we raised it in this Chamber, it did not seem politically correct but we did this House proud in that we led rather than followed on the issue and put our heads above the parapet when it was necessary.

We did likewise when it came to the plight of the Palestinian people. It is absolutely and utterly obscene to use the Palestinian people as a pawn in world politics.