David Norris (Independent)

I join with Senator Fitzgerald in sending good wishes to the retiring Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern. I did not have the opportunity to praise him in this House. I listened to some of the ceremony at the Battle of the Boyne site and was very struck by memories which came to mind to which nobody else has referred. I recalled a moment during a difficult period of the peace process when the Taoiseach said something that attracted the ire of Dr. Ian Paisley, who threw a tantrum and demanded a withdrawal and an abject apology. It showed an extraordinary degree of statesmanship that the Taoiseach did not allow his self-importance to stand in the way of this and he gave a humble apology. I would not have had the moral courage to do that, and this was the single event that struck me most about his career. I also send good wishes to Deputy Séamus Brennan who, as Senator Fitzgerald said, was always a courteous and efficient Minister. I hope his health continues to improve and that he goes on to other appointments, perhaps in Europe or elsewhere. I wish the incoming Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, good fortune. He is heading into choppy waters financially and we must all support him, as Fine Gael very honourably did in the past on the Tallaght strategy, if he takes the correct decisions. The situation facing the country is serious.

I would like to turn to the other issue Senator Fitzgerald raised, namely Burma. Coincidentally I was at a performance of a play called "The Lady of Burma" in the Helix theatre by a very brilliant young English playwright of Irish extraction, Mr. Richard Shannon. It was immensely moving and raised in my priorities the question of Burma. I had intended to raise it this week but little did I know the tragedy that would hit Burma and its people. It is very important the Government uses whatever diplomatic muscle it has to ensure aid and personnel are got in. It is extraordinary when we think back to October last year when we discussed the riots in Burma and the ruthless military efficiency with which the junta mobilised personnel in that country to suppress its own people. I hope it is able to find similar efficiency in assisting its people and not in repression. I welcome the fact that it belatedly cancelled the 10 May referendum. It would have been an insult to any sense of morality or decency if it had gone ahead with that in light of the tragedy that probably involves at least 60,000 people. We need to examine that situation and I would welcome a discussion on it.

I have been very closely examining the meteorological reports and analyses, and underneath the incident is the phenomenon of global warming. There is no doubt that Cyclone Nargis is one of the predicted by-products. Underneath that is the elephant in the room, the subject nobody will address. Apparently no moral, political or spiritual leader has the guts to confront the disastrous population explosion that will get worse. We will have more of these and nincompoops, including people in this House, will say one can create a mathematical model whereby the entire population can be fed. Perhaps one can, theoretically, in an academy, in a laboratory. However while we are doing this tragedies will occur, people will starve and there will be a disaster. Let us look not just at the immediate prospect but the underlying disastrous situation, namely population explosion.