Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I thank Senators for raising the issue of Íngrid Betancourt, the leader of the Colombian Green Party. I support the calls made today and by Senator O'Toole informally after yesterday's intervention for an all-party motion on the issue. There is no need to reiterate that her captivity is unacceptable. Its manner and the stance she has taken in Colombia have resonance for our country's experiences.

I welcome Senator O'Toole's contribution regarding the representation by the Munster Literature Centre in respect of the lack of a permanent national literature centre. The MLC is a neighbour of mine on Douglas Street in Cork and I used to work for it. I was glad to receive the letter because it was not a supplication on behalf of the organisation. Rather, it was a call for a national cultural literature infrastructure. As Cork people and institutions tend to do, it pointed out that Cork has taken the cultural lead in this matter.