David Norris (Independent)

I support my colleagues. It is notable that the call came from across the House that we should have a debate on the Olympic Games and China. We have a comprehensive motion, No. 8, in the name of the Independent Senators about the position, for example, of the Tibetan people under the Dalai Lama. Driving the Olympic torch through Tibet is tantamount to driving a dagger through the heart of democracy. It is unconscionable humiliation of the oppressed people of Tibet. I agree with Senator O'Toole that of course politics and sport are mixed, as the Chinese Government knows perfectly well which is why it grabbed the Olympic Games and is trying to milk them for whatever it could get out of them. I am glad it has backfired. I would like the Minister to come to the House and explain why, despite the fact that no less than three Fianna Fáil former Ministers, the late Frank Aitken, Michael O'Kennedy and David Andrews, did not support the so-called integration of Tibet into China, the Chinese ambassador can use The Irish Times to inform the people that it is our policy. Is the Chinese ambassador now formulating and articulating foreign policy on our behalf? We should boycott the opening ceremony. The athletes should maintain a dignified absence. James Joyce said that on some occasions "absence is the highest form of presence". By absenting themselves they would make a moral statement and it would allow them to continue to compete, which everybody would also like.

I wish to move an amendment to the Order of Business, that we take No. 36, in the name of all the Independent Senators. It is of particular urgency as it refers to the case of Ingrid Betancourt. I know I am not the only person in the House — virtually everybody here feels very strongly about it. This is an extraordinary woman, whose father was Colombian ambassador to UNESCO, whose mother founded an institution for street children in Colombia, who, herself, was elected by the highest vote to the Colombian Senate, who opened discussions with FARC in an honourable manner and was then kidnapped by that group. She is now seriously ill with malaria and hepatitis B, and has a serious dermatological condition. She may die if she does not get a blood transfusion. In the interests of humanity, I ask that we should give even 20 minutes today to pass this resolution, which I am sure would be an all-party resolution.

In light of our experience of British airports, despite the fact that an Irishman is in charge of the latest fiasco, and in light of the recent article by Senator Feargal Quinn in The Irish Times about joining the Schengen Agreement, it should be noted that Irish citizens are routinely refused the use of flight transfer facilities in British airports. They are forced to land and then to re-apply to the airline. In recent days two people close to me have experienced great difficulties in Heathrow Airport. It is no coincidence that they are black haired, brown eyed and brown skinned. One of them, a close friend of mine, was detained and asked how somebody like him acquired an Irish passport. In response to that, I ask the Irish Government to arrange for some of the no doubt fully Aryan, blue eyed, fair haired, fair skinned staff of the British Embassy to be routinely detained at Collinstown Aerodrome in a special little room so they can experience the delights of racism, to which Irish citizens are routinely treated in Heathrow and other British airports.