Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Norris on the human rights of Edward Snowden. In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, who was also a government employee, leaked the Pentagon papers. When he had returned from serving in Vietnam he worked for the Rand Corporation. He leaked what became known as the Pentagon papers and highlighted how we had been deceived about the war in Vietnam. It is an embarrassing and horrific story and was the result of public relations by the United States Government at the time. I believe that Edward Snowden is also a decent honest person, who is fearless. He leaked what the United States surveillance is doing around the world. The United States surveillance on European countries cannot be ignored. We stood by when rendition flights were going through Shannon. As a small country, Ireland should stand up for the human rights of this man. He cannot apply for asylum in Ireland as he must be in this country to do so. However, people are raising thousands of pounds to get him a flight out of Russia so he can get to another country. Daniel Ellsberg is a hero today in the United States.