David Norris (Independent)

I want a reply today from the Leader.

I and many others, including Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú on the Government benches, spoke out against the revolting practice of torture. We now know that medical personnel were involved in supervising and assisting in torture with the help of the CIA. This is based on a leaked report by the International Committee of the Red Cross. I do not believe we will really clean out that Augean stable until Bush is indicted and impeached. Cheney, Rumsfeld and that appalling disgrace to womanhood, Condoleezza Rice, should be indicted before the International Criminal Court.

On the issue of human rights, when will we receive the Civil Partnership Bill? My mailbox is full of appeals from Irish citizens who are caught by the absence of this legislation and the laziness of the Government in confronting it. Another US state is legalising full marriage between same sex couples but we have done nothing so far. We are punishing our own citizens.

All these matters must be addressed. I call for attention to be paid to the important financial debate in the House today. We are a second House of the Oireachtas but an important one. I also call for a full debate on human rights.