Seanad Report: The leader of the House, Mrs O'Rourke, said that she had put her money where her mouth was in relation to her opposition to what was happening at Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere.
She had turned down an invitation to dinner in the American embassy last week on the basis that she could not be giving out in the Seanad about what was going on in Guantanamo Bay "and all the rest of it and then going up to a dinner in the ambassador's home. So I just turned it down. I know another person who gave out, not in this House, but in another House, but accepted the dinner invitation. So you can do it, or you needn't do it."
Mrs O'Rourke said she thought that people had a legitimate right to express their displeasure at the Bush visit if they wished. "Of course, we have an affinity with the US, but that's a different thing from having an affinity with the current president."
She was responding to Dr Mary Henry (Ind) who requested that she ask the Taoiseach to inform President Bush during their forthcoming meeting of the deep concerns of senators about the irregularities being perpetrated in Guantanamo Bay.
Dr Henry said she had still not found out whether any prisoners being conveyed to that detention centre were passing through Shannon Airport.
Mr Brendan Ryan (Lab) said it appeared to be carrying national enthusiasm in this country too far by suggesting that the position of European Commission president should be filled by someone who had wreaked depredation on the developing world with his enthusiasm for free trade and the World Trade Organisation.
Describing himself as something of a Euro critic, Mr Ryan said the enthusiasm here for an Irish person to head the Commission, irrespective of his political views, astonished him.
Mr David Norris (Ind) said it would be a great thing if Mr Ahern were to take up this job, even if he had to make a personal sacrifice to do so.
Reacting to a Fianna Fáil member's criticism of "political" newspaper advertisements relating to the issue of a terminal at Dublin Airport, Mrs O'Rourke said she had received information which rendered her quite speechless "about a particular matter with that particular gentleman. I am saying no name. I feel that it's something that should be looked into very carefully. Huge donations".
Seeking a debate on certain aspects of the legislation governing political donations, Mr John Hanafin (FF) said he was referring to the full page advertisements which he said had appeared in the Irish Independent, very specifically political ads, but ostensibly doing damage to the Government for the purpose of the terminal at Dublin Airport.
"I think that the person who put that ad was trying to bully the Government, and it was very wrong and very political at a time of an election."
Mrs O'Rourke said she agreed with Mr Hanafin and she thought that the placing of such advertisements was disgraceful. "I thought it was a disgrace when I was the butt. I think it's equally a disgrace when the Taoiseach is the butt."