David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry that the second of the amendments has been ruled out of order. Section 93(2) states:

The provisions of this Act shall provide for extradition, where a country is in adherence to democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as defined in particular in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in the instance of European countries, the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols.

This provision is vitally important as this country had an appalling record in the past of returning people to countries such as Iraq and Iran. On one occasion the person responsible for returning somebody said the person concerned would travel to a different part of Iraq. He said they would not be sent to a dangerous part of the country, but there is no safe part of Iraq. It is very important, therefore, that this country stick to its principles and not extradite somebody to a country where human rights are not observed and the standards of treatment of human beings are below those which are acceptable in a civilised country.