David Norris (Independent)

I wish to ask the Leader whether we can have a discussion in the coming weeks on Ireland's heritage, particularly the vital role played by the Irish Georgian Society. It is appropriate that this issue be raised today because this is the 50th anniversary of the Irish Georgian Society set up by Desmond and Mariga Guinness. This is especially relevant to Senators in this beautiful part of Leinster House. Desmond Guinness was incited to start the Georgian Society by the vandalism perpetrated next door to here when two magnificent 18th century houses in Kildare Place were destroyed on the instructions of the Government to the great disadvantage of the Irish people and to the disservice of culture. It was done as a specific, deliberate, wilful and gleeful act of vandalism as was clearly indicated by the fact that the Minister for Defence at the time, the late Kevin Boland, stated he was glad to see them go as they stood for everything he hated. This is astonishing, crude and ignorant in its way.

Prior to this we had the destruction of Coole Park. What an extraordinary reward for Lady Gregory. The Gore Booths were hounded out of Lissadell and their few pathetic acres of land taken from them and administered in an appalling way. I heard on radio a local representative, I believe from Sinn Féin, state they deserved this because they had walked over the Irish people when their mouths were stained green from the grass they had been eating. This was a deliberate and calculated lie. These people bankrupted themselves at the time of the famine feeding the people.

We need to understand the complexity of our history and pay tribute to people such as Desmond and Mariga Guinness and review what is happening now. Thanks to the Georgian Society, its members derided as though they were only belted earls, Castletown and Roundwood in County Laois were saved. Vernon Mount near Cork is in imminent peril.

I call for a debate on East Timor and this is an appropriate time to do so because the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, is there at present. The country recently had a traumatic episode when the Prime Minister, José Ramos-Horta, was shot and severely injured. I am pleased to state that today, for the first time, he has regained consciousness. Tom Hyland is also there in a semi-official capacity. He has represented his country with great dignity and pleaded the cause there.

We should have an opportunity to congratulate the Government on its vision in establishing the conflict resolution unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Its first mission will be in East Timor and I welcome the appointment of Nuala O'Loan as she is a most wonderful woman who can only do good.

This is an extraordinary day as far as I am concerned because for the first time — and it is traumatic — I find myself in agreement with Michael O'Leary. I never thought the day would come. On RTE radio this morning he was absolutely right in what he said about the air traffic controllers dispute. The person representing the trade union movement did a disservice in refusing to answer the questions which were asked and in seeking 15% for air traffic controllers to be on standby before overtime money is received. RTE did a damn good job in putting him in a corner and extracting the answer. It is a day of woe for me when I find intellectual rigour compels me to agree with Michael O'Leary.