David Norris (Independent)

I wish to make one further point. It is absolutely appalling to think that Ireland would consider engaging in military exercise of either an aggressive or defensive kind with people who may well use such weapons during the course of that military operation. We must not do so as it is the wink and snigger and gives them moral permission. It is so queasily ambiguous that I am 100% against it.

I started on a positive note, although I made some criticisms. The Government should lay off Tony D'Costa who is a very decent man without whom we might not be in this position. However, I wish to end on a congratulatory note. On 6 March this year, I listed a number of the companies with which Ireland, probably accidentally or unintentionally, had invested sums of money through the pensions fund. I brought this matter to the attention of the then Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan. He was horrified and pushed in the direction of ethical investment. I welcome its copperfastening in this Bill and our hands will be much cleaner after its passage. However, they could have been snow white.