I support the calls of the two previous speakers for more time on the Qualifications (Education and Training) Bill to facilitate proper consultation with the broad range of educational interests involved.
Senator O'Toole commented on the good judgment of the House of Lords with regard to General Pinochet, the former dictator of Chile. I was less than happy with the statement by Lord Dubs in the House of Lords yesterday regarding the proposed inquiry into the death of Rosemary Nelson. He said the RUC is the best qualified body to conduct the inquiry. Given that the report by the independent commission showed that the inquiry conducted by the RUC into death threats to Rosemary Nelson was a sham, the force is the worst qualified to conduct the inquiry. The Minister for Foreign Affairs should impress upon the British authorities the need to have the inquiry carried out by an independent body. There is no reason the FBI could not conduct the inquiry, having first received the forensic material from the RUC.
Regarding NATO's air strikes on Yugoslavia and Kosovo, I am disappointed the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been seen to be evasive and not to have an opinion, good, bad or indifferent, about what this country's position should be. It behoves us to know where we stand as a people. It is not good enough to say we do not have a view because we do not know the position under international law. We have enough experts to find that out so that we can state our position. President Milosevic is a dictator who has engaged in extreme violence and ethnic cleansing. This country must know where it stands on the NATO strikes. The Minister should address the House and allow us to help him make up his mind, and that should happen at the earliest opportunity.