Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In response to Senator Averil Power, it is important to have a holistic debate on the current situation in the Middle East. Normally one would almost be run-over in the stampede once one spoke about the Palestinian people and Palestinian recognition. Strangely enough, down through the years there has never been such a stampede when people have spoken about the security of the people of Israel or the right of that country to exist. We need a substantive debate on that matter.

While I do not expect the Minister to arrive in the House this afternoon or even next week, I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to the House to discuss the lost at sea report which is a stain on the nation's politics. In the history of the Ombudsman's office, only three special reports have issued. We all know the circumstances, including the Leas-Chathaoirleach. In my view, a previous Government and a previous Minister did a grave disservice to a family who suffered deep loss and bereavement arising from a dreadful fishing tragedy. The circumstances have not changed. The current Government parties, individually and collectively - I was a member of that grouping - put forward in the last phase of politics before the Dáil, Seanad and the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine a strong request to the then Government to respond positively to the Ombudsman's report. The circumstances have not changed one bit since then except that people have moved to different sides of this and the other House. If the public sees no action by the Government on this report, it will ask why bother voting and why bother changing governments if nothing changes. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to come to the House and explain what is happening to the commitment we all gave to a family to respond to the Ombudsman's special report. The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, who has moved on to a much higher and significant phase on the European stage, put enormous work into that report. It is a damning indictment of all of us if we do not implement her recommendations.

I have asked for that on a few occasions but as the weeks and months pass, the pain, suffering and loss experienced by the families concerned has not diminished. They must feel angry about the way the State and various Governments have ignored them. I want the issue debated in this House, and I want to hear from the Minister and the Government on whether they intend to keep their word.