Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I welcome the easing of the blockade of Gaza. It is a tragedy that lives were lost in the run-up to this change of policy on the part of the Israeli Government. I am not naive enough to believe everyone in the flotilla was an honest broker, but I believe strongly that peaceful protestors with a human rights agenda deserve the full protection of national and international law. While I welcome this news, I lament the preceding tragedy.

I listened with a wry sense of amusement to various contributions on the statement of the Catholic bishops on the civil partnerships legislation. I was surprised that no one had referred to the four church leaders in Northern Ireland seeking to meet the main banks-----