David Norris (Independent)

That is fine. I accept the Minister's word and I feel reassured on that point.

In regard to the use of the phrase "unacceptable level of harm", I do not believe there is any level of harm or damage that is acceptable. I welcome the fact that the level of acceptability is dropping. I recall a Tory Minister who when dealing with Northern Ireland got into terrible trouble for saying that we had achieved an acceptable level of violence. The people revolted saying there is no acceptable level of violence. There may be a level of violence with which we must put up, but it is not acceptable. I do not believe there is any level of mutilation of human beings that is acceptable. We must be careful about the language we use. There must be another formula that does not indicate this type of mutilation is acceptable, because it is not. It is completely unacceptable. I know the Minister of State and his officials will agree with me in that regard.

A problem I have with theology is that certain elements of it have colonised and redefined language in a manner which divorces it from common usage, which is dangerous. This is one of the reasons the Church is losing ground. I do not believe we should do this in politics if at all possible, in particular when dealing with this type of material. There is no acceptable level of injury or damage. As Gertrude Stein said, a rose is a rose is a rose. A cluster is a cluster is a cluster. As the Minister said, what is provided for in the Bill is a partial ban on cluster munitions. We continue to permit——