David Norris (Independent)

If the Leas-Chathaoirleach would be kind enough to indulge me, I am about to reach a conclusion. The position with regard to Bosnia-Herzegovina is disastrous. NATO continues to refuse to provide co-ordinates in respect of unexploded depleted uranium weapons. Some of these weapons are buried over 1 m beneath the surface of agricultural land on which vegetables are still grown. The relevant ministry in Serbia put in place a decontamination programme, provided investment and committed to the location and disposal of these weapons. That programme has proved successful.

I reiterate the requests that have been made to the Government by the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, ICBUW. These requests include the drafting of an internationally binding uranium weapons convention that would ban the use, sale, production, testing and transport of uranium weapons, the destruction of existing stockpiles, the provision of money and expertise by the international community for decontamination, and support, medical care and environmental monitoring for communities affected by the use of these weapons.

My final point relates to the disastrous, disgraceful, illegal, immoral, unjustifiable and barbarous attacks that were launched against the civilian population of Iraq. The latter is the country which has been worst affected by the use of depleted uranium weapons. When one sees a map detailing the various sites where such weapons are to be found, it is as if one is looking at a country that has caught the measles as a result of the number of red dots in evidence. Iraq is a desert country in which the effects of the dust are magnified. We are aware of the extent of the injuries suffered, the long-term illnesses acquired, the birth defects, the leukaemia, the cancers, etc. This is a catastrophe about which the world is saying nothing. Owing to the fact that the political situation in Iraq is so chaotic, those countries which brutally assaulted it and exposed its civilian population to radiation are not taking action. It is very unlikely that the Government in Iraq could act in the same effective way as its counterpart in Serbia to address this matter.

For the reasons I have outlined, it is very important that Ireland should continue its courageous campaign to rid the world of these filthy weapons. It must be remembered that a similar campaign in respect of cluster munitions proved successful.