David Norris (Independent)

I thank my colleague, Senator Mullen, for reminding me that the National Women's Council is having a briefing session in the AV room. I intend to attend that meeting because it is important that we are fully informed. It is slightly silly to suggest that we should debate matters in anticipation of an expert review on anything. If we are serious about having a dignified debate it is always worthwhile listening to what other people have to say, and I shall certainly do so.

I ask the Leader if it is possible to have a debate concerning the issue of rendition with which this House preoccupied itself when the United States authorities were illegally rendering people to countries where they were tortured. I ask this in light of the fact that a committee was established under the rules of this House. It was the first time that this type of committee had been established. Unfortunately, it was then disestablished as a result of local pressure from business interests but it should be reopened in light of the fact that within the last week it has been disclosed in the House of Commons that very similar answers to those which the then Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs gave both to this House and the other House on the rendition issue have proved not to be correct and that it has been established beyond doubt that the then Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, and other Ministers deliberately misled the House of Commons in Westminster on the fact that particular persons had been illegally rendered to countries where they were tortured. I put the name, number and transit route of this aircraft on the record of this House and I also made a complaint to the Garda Commissioner on the subject. In the interests of morality, human rights and justice I would like us to explore this issue and find out if the same situation obtained in this country, as has now been made clear through the discovery of documents in Tripoli, as happened in England.