Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I also welcome the statement to be made after the Order of Business today. It is necessary and should be as comprehensive, as other speakers have indicated. It must clear up a great deal of uncertainty that has emerged through the reportage and must try to lay to rest a wider perception of the issues in hand and how they might affect every Member of this House, as well as all those who are involved in public life. Consequently, I hope the statement, when made, will cover all such eventualities.

As for the debate this evening, I agree with previous speakers on the need to address the illegal, unwarranted and totally over-the-top reaction of the Israeli Government regarding the Gaza flotilla and the other issues in respect of the use of Irish passports. It also should address several other issues that have questioned the commitment of the Israeli Government - I stress the Israeli Government rather than the Israeli people - to the concepts of international law.

With regard to the proposed amendment to the Order of Business, I will try to set Senator Bacik's mind at rest by stating I attended a meeting earlier this morning and that the heads of the Bill have been prepared. A series of meetings will be held this evening and the heads of the Bill will be published by the end of this week. I also am impatient for this legislation to be published, having published a Dáil Bill on the subject several years ago. I argue that possibly I am at the head of the queue in this regard and think-----