David Norris (Independent)

A mechanism must be found so that Mr. Trichet, Mr. Lipsky and Mr. Ajay Chopra can be invited to attend in Dublin and a select group of Members, including some new ones such as Senator Sean Barrett and Deputy Peter Mathews in the other House, could question them on behalf of the Irish people. It seems we are being partially ruled by international financial institutions. The Irish people are entitled to know how, why, to what extent and how we can get out of this mess.

I am deeply ashamed at the report of the United Nations committee against torture. It does not make me feel good as an Irishman to read the recommendations. Many of us spoke about the Magdalene institutions and I am glad that this determination has come. I pay tribute to those courageous people who have spoken out before, including people who were in the institutions. I refer in particular to Professor James Smith of Boston College, who motivated and spoke to groups from both Houses in the audiovisual room in Leinster House. The recommendations are simple: apologise, investigate and compensate. I am delighted to hear a spokesman on the Government side, my good friend and colleague Senator Ivana Bacik, call for these things. It is interesting that there are other recommendations, including ensuring budget cuts to human rights institutions do not cripple their activities. Where did we hear that before? We heard it here, in a major debate in Seanad Éireann, which was never covered. That is sad and I invite people to look back at the debate in anticipation of the report. Another recommendation is to provide further information on specific measures taken to investigate allegations of State involvement in rendition programmes. That was raised in this House.