David Norris (Independent)

I agree with Senator Fitzgerald regarding her concern about the state of the country's finances and the reports we have received and it is a pity that these inquiries will not take in what one might call "the night of the long fangs" when the bankers secretly visited the sources of power here and sank their teeth into the bank accounts of ordinary, decent citizens. I look forward to some discussion on that but it is a great shame.

I agree 100% with Senator Cummins. I was astonished that this House was prorogued last week and that the newspapers at least appeared to suggest this was all to facilitate a golfing excursion. That certainly brings the entire House into discredit and even yesterday the Order of Business was suddenly amended in order that instead of taking the statements on the banking reports tomorrow, we would take them today.

Will the Leader communicate with the Minister for Foreign Affairs about security provisions for visiting political dignitaries? I seek a debate on foot of the situation that emerged at the Institute of European Affairs last week when the Iranian Foreign Minister visited in the company of a group of his own thugs who were acting as security people. They beat up members of the public who were protesting outside the building about the attitudes and behaviour of the Iranian Government. It is not acceptable that the mercenaries of a foreign state should beat up Irish people on their own streets and I would like an explanation about how this was allowed to happen. I understand the Institute of European Affairs was requested by the Department of Foreign Affairs to host this meeting and I doubt if its officials were enthusiastic about it, particularly in light of what I heard. The delegation entered the building, were met by the head of the operation, a very distinguished former Irish diplomat, Ms Jill O'Donoghue, and they asked to see the boss. When they were told this was the boss, they asked to see the "real boss, the man". It is about time the Iranian people were told what Irish society is really like, and that we do not appreciate this type of ignorant barbarism.