David Norris (Independent)

I wish to raise an issue concerning No. 19, motion 3, of non-Government motions on the Order Paper. It calls on the Seanad to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to request his partners in the European Union to establish a monitoring committee to examine the way in which human rights provisions in Israel are being implemented, if they are and if there are any infringements of these provisions. I raise this matter because I am a little concerned at the response given by my good friend, Senator Boyle, who I believe meant it to be in the most constructive way. However, I am concerned because I had understood there was general agreement that this was an appropriate motion, that it would be taken and that it had been discussed at the leaders' meeting.

I am not suggesting any ill will on the part of Senator Boyle, but I am concerned about the way in which the Department of Foreign Affairs interferes in the business of this House. Senator Boyle said in summary that he had received a note from the Department which stated that there were already a series of monitoring machines, in effect monitoring devices, in place and that there would be a meeting on 16 June, which may be a good augury because it is Bloomsday, and suggested that for that reason he would not take it but asked that we leave it on the Order Paper.

I am concerned because regardless of however professional, skilled and wise officials are in the ways of the diplomatic world, it is not appropriate for unelected officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs to dictate the business of this House. That very much appears to be what is happening. It is happening increasingly. Increasingly, both Houses of the Oireachtas are being bypassed in various ways and this is but one instance of that.

In the previous session, it was generally agreed by both sides of the House, with the enthusiastic participation of the then Leader, to establish a special committee to look into rendition. That proposal was agreed but the process collapsed as a result of outside intervention. Such intervention is wrong. It subverts the democratic role of this House. Although what the Department officials say is quite right, namely, that there are various ways of supervising, the first point to make is that none of them is effective. The human rights abuses in that part of the world, tragically, have multiplied because Israel has got away with it with impunity. I am not underestimating the extraordinary difficulties faced by the Israeli Government. Its civilians are being attacked, there are rocket attacks and all the rest of it. None the less international law should survive and rule supreme. This external association agreement, to a certain extent at least, is conditional on the fulfilment of human rights protocols. Such fulfilment does not exist. These conditions need to be independently monitored.

It appears the House cannot even discuss a request that we should establish a proper monitoring system for the human rights protocols. I am not asking for a boycott or the imposition of sanctions or anything else at this stage. We should find out through the machinery provided for in the treaties what is the state of play with regard to human rights in Israel. It is fair to do that. If we are inhibited from discussing it by the intervention of the Department of Foreign Affairs, then as a Parliament we might as well pack our bags and go home.