Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I would not like to keep down Deputy Sargent with his brief question. This is an acceptable idea with a feel-good factor. On 14 September, when the Taoiseach spoke at the launch of the task force, he pointed out that there are now 160 nationalities living in the country from outside the jurisdiction and that Ireland is a country in transition, a process that will continue. From that point of view, however, no non-national was appointed to the task force and no ethnic groups from abroad are represented on it. That appears to contradict the Taoiseach's remarks that there are 160 nationalities here. Has the task force been given a remit to hold meetings exclusively with the different ethnic groups here from abroad who are and will continue to be part of our country? The mixes of the races in the next 25 years will bring about a very different change in Ireland again. The Taoiseach might deal with that.

The two most precious things people have now are probably time and good health. The other day at 6.15 a.m., I was in Lucan doing some work on traffic analysis, and the extent of goodwill from many thousands of people who wish to help in this whole business of creating strong community was palpable. It is being directly inhibited because of obstructions to the implementation of practical policies. Does the Taoiseach envisage different Departments, particularly the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, introducing measures to ease the pressure on people, which would have a parallel effect of giving them more time to involve themselves where they want to in the development of their communities, thereby creating better lifestyles?

I will give another example. I was in Swinford recently and I met cancer care people. They have collected €750,000 for a CAT scan facility. That involved fundraising walks, marathons and related activities. Does the Taoiseach see that people would expect these facilities to be provided by the State from taxpayers' revenue? The amount of time going into that operation, to use a pun, could otherwise be devoted to the overall development of the community.

In such a case, we could use people's precious time far more effectively in the interests of the elderly, frail, vulnerable, illiterate, innumerate and those who need help along the way from a very young age up. So much good could come out of this energy if it were to be harnessed in an overall and comprehensive way.

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