Shane Ross (Independent)

I do not think anybody in the House is in favour of capital punishment. I find it extremely offensive that one of our closest allies, the United States of America, last night once again in a high profile case barbarically executed yet another person for a crime which he undoubtedly, or probably, committed, although that is irrelevant. I heard on radio this morning that some 400 people had been executed there this year in a savage fashion. It is imperative that we send a message to the United States that the Irish people and Government, as well as both Houses of the Oireachtas, do not approve of this behaviour. We have made appeals from these benches and others for perhaps 25 years since capital punishment was officially abolished in this country. I do not believe the Minister for Foreign Affairs is conveying this message to our friends overseas, particularly across the Atlantic. It is particularly disappointing, in view of the fact that President Obama, when he came to office, made it clear he was not in favour of the death penalty, yet it is continuing under his Presidency, particularly in Texas and West Virginia. It would be a worthy move, representative of everybody in this and the other House, if we took the opportunity presented by the savage execution last night to convey our utter disapproval of this activity in the United States.