Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I, too, welcome the release of Mr. Shane Dillon and others. Shane is due to meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs at 12.30 p.m. today to outline his experience of the attack on the flotilla in international waters. Lest we forget the pressures on Israel, five militants were killed yesterday, three of whom had fired rockets into Israel and two of whom had been in a fire fight with Israeli soldiers. They had been trying to kill Israeli citizens. Israel has a right to protect itself. No one, either inside or outside the Oireachtas, would deny Israel's right to take appropriate measures against those who attack it. Obviously, however, the attacks in international waters are to be condemned. I welcome the debate to be held this evening, which the Minister will attend.

Senator Coghlan raised an important issue concerning the power of NAMA and its contacts with county councils to prevent dezoning of land. As the Senator is well aware, this has been a controversial issue in County Kerry, as it is elsewhere. NAMA has serious powers with regard to reviving and extending planning permission. Perhaps the Leader could arrange to have a debate on NAMA. Many developers who bought lands on the fringes of towns that are now being dezoned by one branch of government in the guise of councils under directives from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will end up being administered by NAMA. Therefore, they will end up on the doorstep of taxpayers and the Government. It is right and proper that NAMA would try to defend taxpayers' interests by contacting county councils and preventing them from dezoning land. I do not have to tell the good Senator who is an auctioneer of many years standing that the difference between zoned and dezoned land is enormous. I join him in seeking a debate on the issue.