Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for prolonging matters. It was stated that the people cannot afford to build brick houses. Can the Government afford to build them? When this State was founded, its people could not afford what was required. As a result, the State had to intervene directly. The Chairman has indicated a desire to return to the meeting. As a result, I must remain in situ until he does so. I apologise for that and I know members are becoming impatient.

Some members of the committee visited Sierra Leone, while others travelled to Ghana. I know a little about construction despite the fact that I was never directly involved in it. In that context, if I were given the task of putting items of infrastructure in place in Sierra Leone, I would find it difficult to do so with the population still in situ. I refer to the fact that are no footpaths, street lighting, sanitary services or water system, roads, etc., in certain areas. In short, it is absolute desolation. In order to provide the services required by a modern society in such circumstances, a different approach is going to be required. In my opinion, they would need to be provided from scratch on a greenfield site in order that one would not be obliged to circumnavigate the difficulties which unfortunately exist at present. I accept that members wish to attend other meetings but I am obliged to keep proceedings going until the Chairman returns.