Feargal Quinn (Independent)

Senator Norris and I agree on many things, but we do not agree upon the exemption of the churches from equality legislation. I was in the House when it was introduced many years ago and I believe the churches should have the right to be able to be exempted. I mention this because The Irish Times today referred to the fact that I supported Senator Norris and I would like to correct that.

On the other hand, I support Senator Bacik's Climate Protection Bill 2007, and I was very impressed yesterday by the actions of Senator Larry Butler, who invited us to the audiovisual room to see the Spirit of Ireland. The voluntary work being done to suggest how we can solve the problem is very imaginative thinking, although I have no idea whether it will work. This is a huge scheme which is suitable for only five or six countries in the world, and Ireland happens to be one of them, which traps wind power and links it to hydro-power. The group behind it have set out to achieve financial success and energy success for Ireland in the next few years at no cost to the State. It is very costly but these people have voluntarily put this together and are proposing that this take place. From the State's point of view, it would mean wind farms would have to be erected and not be delayed as has happened in the past. I mention this because Senator Butler introduced us to this topic yesterday. He excited us at the possibility of what can happen, and it should be supported. That is why I also support Senator Bacik's effort today.

Senator Hanafin spoke yesterday about events in North Korea. It was referred by others in the media that it was a long way away and that we should not be too worried about it. I was in Arlington Cemetery in Washington last year for the first time. We saw the wall in which 57,000 Americans who died in Vietnam were commemorated. My son was with me and we saw another wall commemorating the loss of 57,000 Americans who died in Korea in the 1950s. The North Koreans announced yesterday that they were making void the peace treaty that brought that war to an end. It is something that should concern us. If 57,000 Americans died, I am sure millions of Koreans died. That happened in the 1950s and it could happen again because the North Koreans have just announced that they regard the peace treaty as void. We are on the brink of huge problems in that part of the world. I would like the Minister for Foreign Affairs to take an interest in that matter and to draw the attention of the European Union to it.