Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom cur leis an méid a dúirt an Seanadóir MacSharry mar gheall ar an iar-Sheanadóir, Bernard McGlinchey, a fuair bás thar an deireadh seachtaine agus a cuireadh i Leitir Ceanainn Dé Domhnaigh seo caite. Chaith sé níos mó ná 20 bliain sa Teach seo, ón bhliain 1961 go dtí tús na 1980í. Tá mé cinnte go mbeidh an Ceannaire breá-sásta ócáid a eagrú amach anseo chun cuimhne ceart a dhéanamh ar an tseirbhís a thug Bernard McGlinchey do Chontae Dhún na nGall, don Seanad agus don Stát thar na blianta. Is mian liom freisin tacú leis an méid a dúirt mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir O'Donovan, i dtaobh na fadhbanna móra atá ag feirmeoirí faoi láthair i dtaca leis an nganntanas bia do na hainmhithe agus an t-airgead atá ag seasamh amach dóibh. Cuirim leis an rún atá molta sa chomhthéacs sin.

I wish to comment on a serious issue that affects all public servants - people on whom we depend such as gardaí, nurses, doctors, teachers, surgeons and firemen. Morale is at an all-time low. As public representatives, on a daily basis we meet civil and public servants who work for and defend the State and our interests. The manner in which they are being treated is totally unacceptable. While I agree with most of what Senator Colm Burke had to say, I remind him that the Government is creating a divide between the public and private sectors by trying to play one off the other, which is wholly unfair. Arguments to that effect are often presented by Ministers during debates. The Senator was right to suggest alternative approaches are available. He identified one of them and there are many others.