David Norris (Independent)

I advise Members, in case they have not received notification and in light of tomorrow night's debate on civil marriage for gay people, that a briefing on this matter has been organised by GLEN in the AV room. People of different views might find it useful to attend that.

The Leader graciously agreed to take a motion on landmines this week if possible. I do not know if it would be possible to take it on Thursday, which is usually a reasonably slack day. Perhaps he would let me know if there has been agreement from the Minister responsible on this matter.

I agree with what Senator Fitzgerald said about the tragic situation of the two young Polish men. They seem to have been decent young people. I heard their landlord talk about them on a radio programme yesterday. He said they were dream tenants. The neighbours all spoke highly of them. They went out to work early in the morning, they were not rowdy and they kept their place spotless. What has happened is shocking.

Senator Fitzgerald is right in what she said. There has been an astonishing increase in such crimes. A well known academic who spoke about this on a radio programme today made the point that one year in the early 1960s there were two homicides in Ireland; the number of homicides each year is now in the eighties. He talked of a contagion of violence. I remember saying some years ago that this would be an inevitable consequence of the troubles fomented, to a certain extent, by the republican movement, that we were all being conditioned to violence and that there would be a cross over. I am afraid, tragically, this is what has happened. I do not think it is tolerable and we must resist it and fight back against it.

I ask the Leader to consider giving time to No. 15 on the Order Paper. I will not rehearse the whole item but it refers to the extraordinary rendition situation. A report was issued by the Irish Human Rights Commission but this has never been discussed in the House. Important documents produced by a Government agency should be examined by the House. I hope my final point would be a very telling one with my friends on the Government side, many of whom took at face value the assurances given by Condoleezza Rice and George Bush although we all knew that they were lying. We now have absolute proof that the most significant of what they said was a downright lie, despite the fact that the Americans categorically stated that no prisoners ever went through British territory in those planes and we now know they have had to confess, to admit and to acknowledge that a plane that has also used Irish airspace — I have put its registration number on the record of the House several times — passed twice carrying prisoners and landed on British sovereign territory. The lies they told the British they are equally capable of telling to us. I would like a debate in light of this important fact.

I wish to extend my sympathy to the Taoiseach in his current difficulties, particularly with regard to the quality of those who are supporting him. I heard the Tánaiste, Deputy Brian Cowen, say that Deputy Enda Kenny was like Napoleon in Elba. That may be so, but the Duke of Wellington, Bertie ain't.

When I heard——