Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I read the Taoiseach's speech at The Wheel, which was well-written. In it, he said "Happy the society that has people who act rather than lament, who organise rather than complain, who accept a personal responsibility rather than walk by on the other side". This a very deep sentiment. In that context, I wish to raise three issues with him.

It appears that one of the consequences of the individualisation of tax has been that many women who used to be involved in voluntary work and who returned to the workforce no longer have the time to engage in voluntary work. Many voluntary organisations are now forced to raise money to pay for what was done on a voluntary basis before as a consequence of tax individualisation. Does the Taoiseach regard this as a consequence or a problem?

The Taoiseach stated that the country requires a civic and participative society where people are involved in the actions of a progressive society. In many communities, where groups get together to work for objectives or targets, for example, community crèche facilities, when they do the work and go through all the necessary processes and get their facility, in most cases, they find themselves hamstrung by serious water charges and commercial rates. Is this not a contradiction in that the State wants to help communities to help themselves but through helping them, burdens them with demands they cannot meet?

Yesterday, Young Fine Gael identified the issue of social isolation and psychological pain as two very important factors in our rates of suicide and depression. Will the task force examine this area because it appears there is a considerable amount of people whose lives are emotionally shattered and who, because of lack of services, are not in a position to contribute to the kind of society the Taoiseach so eloquently spoke about in his speech at The Wheel?

See this speech in context