Alex White (Labour)

I ask for a debate in respect of today's publication of the 2008 report of Amnesty International. The other side of the House has become quieter. The report is fair and balanced and deserves a debate. It acknowledges many of this country's positive achievements, not least of which was the formation and operation of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, but it points out considerable deficiencies and difficulties in our human rights protection legislation and policy. It would benefit the House to have the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform appear before it. As other matters must be dealt with, a debate need not be arranged for the next week or two, but I appeal to the Leader to arrange for a calm and reasoned debate on this important report before the end of the session. The report deals with, for example, rendition, an issue raised by several Senators. This morning, the Secretary General of Amnesty International was reported as stating that the guarantees given to the Government by the US were not worth the paper on which they were written. This state of affairs is extraordinary. Other issues covered by this valuable report would benefit from a debate in the House, which I ask the Leader to facilitate.