Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was not here yesterday, unfortunately, as I had other business. Today I want to remember the people of the Niemba massacre who lost their lives in Niemba in the Congo in 1960. Forever etched in my mind are the dates of 8 November and, in particular, 22 November when the bodies were returned to Ireland and brought down O'Connell Street in Dublin. Lieutenant Gleeson and his men, all but two, were lost. I think two survived. One is still missing. That is dating back to those days.

On Tuesday, I raised the issue of the appointment of the next head of intelligence for Ireland. At that time, I expressed my concern that an article had appeared in The Sunday Timesthat suggested the next head of intelligence for Ireland would be a foreigner. I was immediately challenged in this House by a Member of this House who asked me to give way and said that "we have something called employment equality, which also covers race" and that we "cannot adjudicate on someone on the basis of race and exclude him or her from applying for a job". The Senator went on to accuse me of racism. I have been contacted by dozens of members of the public. Apparently, there were people laughing behind my back while I was talking about this most serious issue.There is a grave error of understanding, and it unfortunately brings this House into disrepute when people do not understand the difference between nationalism and racism. You must be a national, an Irish citizen, to run for President in this country. Is that racist? You must be an Irish citizen or have Irish heritage to play football for this country. Is that racist? The Cathaoirleach was not here. He was representing the country the way he does best at the House of Lords. I congratulate him on that. I believe he was the first speaker from this country to do that. I demand a formal apology from all in this House who took issue with what I said. I am extremely concerned about this country and its international reputation when it comes to security and intelligence. The thought that we would bring a foreigner into this country and have him or her head up our intelligence service, giving him or her access to the most sensitive information on all of us, is totally and utterly unacceptable. That must not be mistaken for racism. I ask those who decided to take the mick out of me and laugh behind my back to come here and apologise first to me and second to the House itself for what they said.