The minutes of the meetings held on 27 April 2004 were circulated.
Business of Joint Committee.
May I have an input from members as to how we should deal with my suggestion that a statement should issue from the meeting condemning the appalling loss of civilian life yesterday in Rafah and in western Iraq. Such a statement would be expected from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. It should be simple in content. The committee should first, reiterate its condemnation of pre-emptive killing, with the appalling loss of civilian life, in particular, and, second, express its horror that so many civilians lost their lives in western Iraq, including ten women and 15 children. I suggest we issue such a statement with the unanimous support of members. I will elaborate on the matter at later in a different forum.
We will have an opportunity of addressing the situation in Iraq later today but I agree that it is incumbent on this committee to issue such a statement. At the risk of blurring matters, we should also find a way of condemning the attacks in Gaza. I do not want to confuse matters but the principle is almost the same.
The strikes in Rafah and western Iraq have resulted in the largest loss of civilian life in a very long time. I think we should agree and issue a statement in the form I suggest.
I agree that we will issue a statement, which will be drafted later.
The committee convenor should be consulted.
All right. The minutes of the meetings held on 27 April 2004 were circulated with the agenda for the meeting. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. Are there any matters arising? No.
Is the Chairman aware that the reason a Senator was not present is that the Order of Business in the Seanad coincided with the start of the meeting.
The Order of Business in the Dáil is also at this time.
Why was the meeting arranged for 10.30 this morning?
I ask the Senator to defer that matter when I shall explain it to him.