David Norris (Independent)

I ask the Leader to raise with the Minister for Foreign Affairs the case of a Palestinian Christian woman, Berlanty Azzam, a fourth-year student in business studies. She was arrested on 28 October and held in custody in Netanya. She was taken blindfolded and handcuffed in an Israeli military jeep. The charge is that she is a person from Gaza. The Israeli authorities have decided to strangle the education system as hard as they can and I have been asked by Professor John Kelly, former registrar of University College Dublin, and Brother Jack Curran, who is involved in Bethlehem University, to make the strongest possible protest against this violation of a young woman's right to self-development.

I wish to comment on the fact that the Government finds it impossible to provide time in the Dáil to discuss NAMA and must make use of this House to get its amendments through. That should be drawn to the attention of those who believe Seanad Éireann has no function whatever. It plainly has an extremely vital function in getting this important legislation through.

I spoke in this House as a sole voice supporting the Shell to Sea campaign. I know there were other decent honourable Members on the Government benches who felt the same way but were constrained from saying so. Let it be recorded that An Bord Pleanála referred back this planning decision because of concerns that mirrored exactly what had been said by the Shell to Sea campaign - that the pipeline, as currently constituted, was dangerous and too close to houses. The people concerned, including those referred by judges to psychiatrists because of their concerns, have been vindicated at last in this appalling, long drawn out and very questionable process of the Government. We were told in this House that they were gangsters, paramilitaries and lunatics. They were not and they have been justified.

I always like to end on a positive note. I congratulate Trinity College Dublin on yet another major scientific breakthrough in the fight against cancer. It is very important that we know our research institutions are again at the forefront of medical research.