Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I understand why Senator Norris was upset at the change of time. I too was following the agenda as I had read it this morning, but then I was hauled out of the Forum on Europe to come over here. It confuses me when I suddenly have to rush to be here, but I did want to speak on this issue.

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad to discuss this very important issue. We as a party placed in the party manifesto for last year's general election a clear commitment to ban cluster munitions. That commitment was repeated in the programme for Government and forms the basis of a Government policy which is among the most progressive in the world. We are at the vanguard of international efforts to rid the planet of these horrible weapons. After his return from south Lebanon, I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and he told me that he saw this as a personal crusade, that he had seen at first hand the awful effects of these bombs on the civilian population of Lebanon, and that Ireland would lead the way in this area. Out of that came the commitment in our party manifesto and in the programme for Government.

In the weeks ahead, Ireland will host a major diplomatic conference on cluster munitions. The conference will complete negotiations on the first ever instrument of international humanitarian law specifically directed against cluster munitions. At the Minister's direction, a national committee on humanitarian law will shortly prepare comprehensive legislation on cluster bombs. This is a national issue and we should not divide on it. For this reason, I am happy this is a cross-party motion with all our support.

I note the announcement by Ireland of a total legislative ban on cluster munitions at the Oslo process in February 2008. This will add further dynamism to and accelerate the process towards a comprehensive ban. In preparing the legislation, we must not forget that the key to this is the victims. We must provide for clearance of areas contaminated by these awful bombs. We must stand by the victims to ban these bombs and landmines forever so that children can run free in the fields and go to school, and parents can till their land and draw water from wells without fear of being blown up by a cluster bomb. I hope in the draft legislation we provide support for education on the risks of cluster bombs, cater for the rehabilitation and medical care of survivors, provide psychological support and assist with social and economic inclusion.

I encourage co-ordination between the governments of the concerned states and relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations in the implementation of the programme. Ireland must become a trend-setter and assist other states in their preparation of this legislation. Ireland is a small country but it is effective and we have a big heart. It is time we led by example and demonstrated the skill and commitment to enact a unilateral ban to make our world free of cluster munitions. I hope the text will be sufficiently comprehensive in its prohibition and will satisfy the expectations of civil society and those affected by cluster munitions. I wish the Minister well in hosting the convention in May and I hope he will take the lead in pushing for a total ban on these awful weapons, as we have outlined in the House today.