Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. Like Senator Byrne, I support the Minister on both of these motions. I lived in Canada for a number of years and know the human rights record there is extremely good, so there is no fear the data would be misused, and Canada would share our abhorrence of terrorism, drugs and human trafficking. As I said on the Order of Business, it is important that we do this now because we do not want to send out any wrong signals. Direct flights between Ireland and Canada are due to resume in April and, without them, a flight takes 12 hours and involves three security checks in Heathrow. We must be part of the international movement to preserve the safety of air travel. The impact of 9/11 on North Americans in both Canada and the United States has been extremely serious so we have to co-operate. They still face these problems every day. Communications and travel that are safe and the preservation of human rights are two goals that coincide. Both are encompassed here and I will certainly be supporting both motions.