Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)

An Ireland with proper democratic debate would have at its centre respect for the rights of others. One minor example comes to mind. Some want to see the Angelus removed from RTE television and radio schedules. While I am not in favour of this, I am open to persuasion. If we were to have a proper and respectful debate on such an issue, perhaps an accommodation could be reached. Man does not live by bread alone. In this new materialistic Ireland could we build on the majority tradition by pausing for daily prayer or reflection when Roman Catholics could quietly say the Angelus and others might say whatever prayers they wish or simply take a moment to reflect?

In an Ireland which shows respect and solidarity could we consider a requirement for all to sign up for national service? Service in the Defence Forces immediately springs to mind when national service is mentioned. There is no disgrace in this. The Defence Forces have served us with great honour. Ultimately, they guarantee our democracy. However, national service need not be military service only. It could involve having to give six months of one's life to the community, prison visiting, helping those with learning difficulties or the developing world. Voluntarism has greatly declined in Ireland. Part of the reason for this is that people spend so much of their time commuting that few actually get home before 6 p.m.-8 p.m. or 9 p.m. is not unusual. Therefore, we have left less time for voluntarism. Perhaps it is time to reintroduce the concept of service to each other and the nation.

What is our concept of nation? The word "nation" comes from natio which means "greater community". The terms "state", "country" and "nation" are constantly used as if interchangeable. The Republic of Ireland is a state of 26 counties; the island has 32 counties and the nation of Ireland includes people who no longer live on the island such as the 800,000 now living in Britain. In revisiting the question are we prepared to be inclusive? What role can immigrants — the new Irish — play in all this? They also have rights and responsibilities but a crucial point little noted about them is that they have enriched our society, broadened our horizons and enabled us to grow economically and in societal terms in ways that would not have been possible without them. We would not have the IFSC on its current scale, major Intel investment or the Google European headquarters in Dublin to name but three examples without the presence of many of the new Irish. The health service would collapse without the presence of nurses from countries such as the Philippines. Some of our inner city churches and other places of worship of all denominations would close without the influx of new blood provided by the new Irish.

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