David Norris (Independent)

I thank the Leader for his constructive suggestion yesterday that we might be able to put together an all-party motion to support the Government's moves in regard to a war crimes tribunal on Gaza. The Minister for Foreign Affairs advanced this measure with other EU foreign ministers. He was supported by Cyprus, Portugal and Sweden. I suggest that the Government might be encouraged to continue to talk to these countries to see if this can be done because, as Senator Ivana Bacik said very powerfully, there is prima facie evidence of war crimes in this instance.

We should monitor external trade association agreements. That is a non-violent matter. Some 75% of Israeli agricultural products come into the European Union. The Union could have switched that war off if it had threatened agricultural imports. That is a good reason I will again campaign against the Lisbon treaty if it is put before us because that is the kind of thing with which we have to put up.

I ask the Leader about the fate of two Bills, the first being the immigration Bill. We had a briefing about the immigration Bill in the audio-visual room which was well attended by Members of both Houses. It is quite defective and needs to be amended by this House. When is it proposed to take it?

When will the domestic partnership Bill, the civil partnership Bill or whatever it is being called now be introduced? I notice that in the past week Sweden has joined a growing number of countries to introduce a Bill on full gay marriage. Could we have a clear and firm commitment on that?

Will the Leader get the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food or the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to welcome the EU directive on pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and insecticides in which 22 substances have been banned? A number of Members on both sides have raised the extraordinary destruction perpetrated on the hedgerows in County Meath with the dangerous use of these products. As a result of this directive, they will be controlled and instruction will be given to local authority staff when they are used close to schools, hospitals and so on. This is a really positive move from the Union and I would like it to be officially welcomed. It has been met by silence even though a case was highlighted in this House.