Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I have heard other colleagues talk about their towns and cities, so I will speak about Tallaght for a few minutes. Like Deputy Glennon, I listened to the earlier contributions and could not figure out if I was living in the same country. I live in Tallaght and represent Dublin South-West, which embraces Tallaght, Brittas, Firhouse, Templeogue and Greenhills. I live in a positive place.

Up to 15 years ago we often spoke of Tallaght, which now has the third largest population centre in the country, as having the population of a city but the status of a village. That changed on 23 October 1990, 15 years ago next Sunday, when the Square was opened by the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. That was a great day and positive occasion for Tallaght. Since then, Tallaght has developed and I invite anybody to take the Luas with me out there any day. Deputy Glennon mentioned Deputy Burton and she is welcome also. Any of my colleagues can visit Tallaght to see how positive a place it is. One can see the council headquarters, Tallaght Hospital and many other facilities that one would expect in a major population centre. One can see how progressive the local institute of technology is and how well the Luas works. If one stands in the Square, as I do most days, one can see 20 cranes nestling in the town centre lands.

It is difficult for me to come into this House to hear so much negative talk about our country and this city. I do not suggest that people do not have an entitlement to make political points. Ireland has changed and my community has changed. I speak as someone who, like my father and grandfather, emigrated. I took the boat to London and was happy over there. I may not have come back and my history may have been completely different had I not become homesick. When I returned I moved to Tallaght with an employer, became involved in community work and I am now a Deputy. It is good, as Deputy Connolly stated, that this is now possible.

Deputy Connolly also made a fine point regarding Ireland being a country of welcomes. There are concerns surrounding the care of returning emigrants, and I often raise in my Dáil business issues about returning Irish people and the Irish abroad. We should be loyal to these people. However, we must understand how our country is seen abroad. I do not get away as often as most but I have been to Ukraine and China recently. It is amazing to see the image that Dublin and the country as a whole has abroad. People see Ireland now as a leading player and a very rich country. One will hear returning people, be they in Meath, Cork, Monaghan, Clare or north Dublin but especially those who have not been in the country for a while, speak of Ireland in positive terms. I have had much experience of this in Tallaght. They speak of the progress that is afoot.

Whatever about the need to make political points, we should be brave enough to admit that our country is doing well and that much progress has been made. If one looks at the history of my community in the 15 years since the Square opened, much has been done, and I am proud of the achievement.

This does bring about challenges. Colleagues made the point about the need to look at ordered development. My community is no different in this regard, and challenges exist there on issues such as infrastructure. We still need new roads. I hope Green Party Deputies will not contend this——

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