David Norris (Independent)

It cannot be allowed to stand without rebuke. It is quite appropriate to challenge such views. The Holocaust was a uniquely catastrophic event in human history. While the overwhelming preponderance of victims were Jewish, they were not exclusively Jewish. This extraordinary and tragic event is part of our universal inheritance of suffering as human beings. It is inappropriate for it to be used to deflect criticism of Israeli foreign and military policy, for example. To use it in that manner, as has been done, represents a betrayal of the victims of the Holocaust. I hope it does not happen again.

I was interested to hear Senator Hannigan speak about last night's interesting Private Members' debate on human rights. The media has shown no interest in the debate, however. I issued a script but not a word of it was picked up. People are preoccupied with the economy, as Senator Harris said. That is natural because it is a huge problem. We must not allow matters such as those raised again today by Senator Hannigan to be blown off the agenda. The media has a responsibility in this regard. It cannot let these matters go entirely. I accept the economy is important. During last night's debate, Senator Hanafin spoke about the enormous waste of money on material that is sent to us in packages. I got an angry communication from a constituent yesterday about something that was included with her Eircom telephone bill. The document in question sets out the life and times of the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, in one of its central sections.