Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I am glad of the opportunity to speak on this Labour Party motion. There is no doubt that everything but the kitchen sink has been included in the motion. It is a recitation of some of the worst excesses of this Government. These include the wasteful expenditure of taxpayer's money on projects and schemes which have proved to be useless, and ongoing expenditure on some of those failed projects.

The money wasted in such projects and other areas is unforgivable, not alone for the excessive amounts involved, but equally because of the good use the wasted money could have been put to in the provision of badly needed infrastructure throughout rural Ireland.

I come from the constituency of Galway East, which is crying out for investment in sewerage, water, roads, rail and broadband. These are all vital elements to enable a region to make some progress and an attempt to catch up with other areas not as neglected by successive Governments as Galway East. The lack of basic services such as water and sewage has led to the price of service building land becoming exorbitant. The lack of investment in services is totally counterproductive.

The younger citizens in our society are also suffering because of a lack of investment in primary and secondary school buildings. Many young pupils are housed in totally inferior buildings which would not have a hope of meeting health and safety regulations.

The motion also highlights the rising crime rates. No matter how the Minister, Deputy McDowell, dresses up the situation in legal speak, throughout this country people are afraid and have no confidence that the forces of law and order are equipped to protect them.

We spent a large portion of our time today discussing the Road Traffic Bill 2006. It is a wasted exercise if the resources to implement it are not provided. They are not being provided and until they are, people will continue to die.

See this speech in context