Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the three groups for attending the meeting. I said to them earlier that their contributions were alarming but very informative. I echo the Chairman's comments to the effect that all the "technopoly" in the world will not save us. We need certain savings but it will not save the relationships being spoken about this morning in banks, between people, in men's sheds, meals on wheels and everything else. We tend to concentrate too much on things that are not at our front door.

The ICA is an extraordinary organisation and when I think of feminism, I think of the likes of the ICA. There is much guff about feminism but we are looking at it with the ICA in 1,000 different ways. It has shown ability, independence, urgency and energy throughout the years. It worked without technopoly. What did the group do that was right? What was at the core of its actions? What made the ICA work and how did it work? What made the ICA work across Ireland?

I had the privilege two years ago of doing a programme on the Monaghan men's sheds. I went to Monaghan and spent two days with the guys, which was really extraordinary. I invited them to Leinster House and 18 of us had lunch in the dining room. I have a little bowl that they made and it has pride of place in my office. That linked me to the men's sheds association in everything it has done and achieved. The Chairman asked a very good question too. Will the witnesses speak about their funding? Is it matched funding? What about the independence of each shed or is there such a thing? What are the plans for the ground-up process? The logo is outstanding. People should have a look at it as it is just brilliant. I do not know how much was paid for it and I know some people have probably paid millions of euro for a logo but it is really terrific.

Macra is an extraordinary organisation. I meet its representatives every year at the ploughing championships. I have not had the privilege of living on the land for a long time, except for my postbox front and back garden in urban Dublin, which can be equally lonely and isolated. I have a 94-year-old mother living in an estate and nobody visits her. The only thing she has is the street lighting. Neighbours in the country can sometimes be far more alive to what is going on than in urban places. The Macra delegation mentioned the report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, and flooding, insurance and crime. What did it do about insurance and what campaign did it mount to change the insurance issue? We all talk about how appalling everything is, but what are we doing about it? The occasional person ranted on television, usually an economist or somebody working in the insurance business. They said it was awful, appalling and dreadful. What did Macra do about that? What did it do about the 83% of farmers who feel they should have the right to bear arms to defend property? I have not heard about that. How was that communicated?

We need to hear more, and not just from economists on television, radio and through other communication. What has happened in that respect? It is all very well to speak about insurance, which is major issue, but what has been done with the ranting? He is a friend but one would not get somebody like Deputy Mick Wallace lying down on such an issue if it affected him personally. That is a bit off the record. I ask the question because there seems to be much airing of what is wrong but what is being done about that besides having the odd survey? What would the groups like to do and what is stopping them from doing it? That applies to the rest of us and I include myself in that impasse.