Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I compliment Senator Zappone on an excellent demonstration. She has done the State some service. I also thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for supporting her worthwhile motion.

I ask the Leader to move in coming weeks No. 12 on the Order Paper relating to the Palestinian State and the non-Government motion 4. On Tuesday, 4 October the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted to grant partner for democracy status to the Palestinian National Council. As one of the delegation along with Senators Clune and Reilly, I was delighted to represent this House in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where we had the opportunity to support the motion which was carried by 110 to five with ten abstentions. The Irish delegation voted very much for the proposal.

I welcome the decision by the Palestinian Authority to release Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas in 2006, in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian detainees. It is a good day for this conflict. At some stage it would be useful to have a discussion on the role of the Council of Europe, representing 800 million people. It comprises 47 countries and Ireland was a founding member. Ireland has a delegation of eight very active members of that organisation. Today's release of the Israeli soldier is a very good day for relations between Palestine and Israel. It is a new beginning in a sense and I hope we could have a useful debate - as we had in the previous Seanad - on the Middle East situation. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade could brief the House on current developments and Ireland's progressive role as the first country to recognise the two-state solution proposed by the late Brian Lenihan Snr. when he was Minister for Foreign Affairs.