David Norris (Independent)

I support strongly Senator Coghlan on the matter of the groceries order. A number of us stood up against its abolition stating nothing would change or prices would increase and that commercial life, especially for small business people, would be seriously damaged. I believe that has happened. Even worse, it has facilitated alcoholic drink offers if not below-cost selling of alcohol. We need to look at this again. Those of us who raised questions about it at that time have been extraordinarily justified by the statement by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin. In fact, Senator Coghlan anticipated something I was going to say.

Owing to other matters, I did not get an opportunity yesterday, which was the first sitting day after the appalling event, to raise the slaughter of students in Yeshiva in Jerusalem. I am critical of the Israeli state. I am critical of the settlers — Yeshiva has connections with the settlers — but that is absolutely no justification to go into what is effectively a school and slaughter innocent young people. I unreservedly condemn it. I put this in a press statement I issued, but it has never been taken up. I do not believe I can be pilloried, as I sometimes am, as being unfair and not even-minded with regard to this situation when routinely this kind of material is not taken up by the press. It was also a tragic day for Palestinians because they have an unanswerable moral case about the conditions in Gaza and the disproportionate use of military intervention against them. The action of that lone gunman in Jerusalem has made the position of persons like myself who wish to fight for their human rights immensely more difficult. I extend my sympathies to the families of those young people whose lives were so wilfully taken from them.