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

It was, but it was in Templeogue and I was there. I also welcome the presence of my friend, colleague and running mate, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan. I believe this is the first time since the general election that I have had the opportunity to speak in the Dáil in his presence. I wish him well in the great job he is doing.

I have listened carefully to the debate. It is interesting that we have all taken different views and taken the opportunity to talk about the remits of various Departments. In my speech I will restrict myself to the responsibilities of a few Ministers. I attended two separate functions in Tallaght last night — I slipped out of the Dáil for a while. I mention this in the context of some of the gloomy speeches we are hearing. In my constituency in Tallaght where I live, I went to a function in Scoil Íosa where the STAY Garda diversion project was celebrating ten years with a concert by the Garda band. I also went to one of the local schools, Knockmore, where a new building was being shown off to the community. I use these as two examples of good Government spending at work. Knockmore school has done a great job with other local schools in a community that has been challenged by disadvantage in the past. The STAY project, one of several Garda diversion projects in Tallaght is clearly well worth funding and I hope we will continue to do so.

It gives me the opportunity to refer to the speech of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and compliment him on funding another Garda diversion project in Brookfield in Tallaght in recent times. In the general election 160 days ago the people took a decision that they wanted a Government to continue to run the economy as it was run, which is why we have another Fianna Fáil-led Government. I am very confident that the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, will continue to do that job. If things are going to be difficult and challenging, we need to consider the areas that need funding. As Deputy Mansergh said, we must continue to fund sports complexes etc. to ensure we are laying the foundations for looking after communities and young people in particular so that in time we do not need to spend as much money on Garda diversion projects and on prison places. I know that case will always need to be made.

It is important for the education budget to remain as strong as possible. In all our communities, whether in Dún Laoghaire, Kerry or Dublin South-West, there are always schools that need redevelopment and renovations. There are always places that need new schools and certain places in my constituency have particular challenges in that regard for which moneys need to be made available. If things are tight we need to continue that.

I am sorry that the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, left. I welcome his appointment in the Office of Public Works. I have dealings with his office at the moment because it is important to proceed as soon as possible with the redevelopment of the Garda station in Tallaght. Tallaght has the third largest population centre in the country. I have often made the point that my constituency, which I share with the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, has only one Garda station and it is time that was reviewed. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, will understand the need to proceed with the redevelopment of the Garda station in Tallaght. If that took place we could then concentrate on the bigger picture as far as policing in our communities is concerned. While every area will always seek more gardaí, the case for Tallaght is particularly strong and I am not afraid to say so.

A number of colleagues have made the important point that we need to support what the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, is doing. I heard Deputy Ardagh praising St. James's Hospital, which I would be happy to do. However, I am very proud of my local hospital in Tallaght which opened almost ten years ago. It has had particular difficulties and challenges, and has been in the news frequently. While I do not want to labour the point about the size of that community, the catchment area of that hospital stretches all the way down to Carnew, through Wicklow and parts of Kildare etc. It is important for us to continue to keep pressure on. Much has been said in recent weeks about the HSE. As somebody with considerable background in a health board — I was the founding chairman of the South Western Area Health Board — I have not been afraid to say that what the Government is trying to achieve in ensuring value for money from the HSE is important. However, we also need to get the message across that the HSE needs to inform us as to what is going on and needs to continue to provide services. Members of the public do not want hear us say that, at approximately €15 billion, more money than ever is going into the health services when people still cannot get services as quickly as they should and cannot get them when they need them. From all benches across the House we should not be afraid to continue to make that point.

I wish to speak about social welfare. I was glad to be nominated as vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs in recent days. I look forward to the challenges it will bring me under its chairman, whose name I had better not say — I will let somebody else announce that. Throughout my political career, bearing in mind my background and remembering as I often do a Dublin of a bygone age, it is important that we continue to support families and communities that need it.

I will not make a political point because I do not want to upset Deputy Seán Barrett. However, I was glad the Taoiseach corrected the Labour Party leader this morning and pointed out that Fianna Fáil does not take lectures on social welfare payments because the record through successive Ministers is there to be seen. I am proud of what we have achieved and we need to continue to do that, certainly as far as the elderly, the disabled and the vulnerable in our communities are concerned. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Martin Cullen, should understand the support he has from all parties when considering the Green Paper on pensions. I am glad the Minister has made it clear that he welcomes public consultation and the responses he will get. We are all concerned about that situation. On the way to the House this morning I had some business at the community centre in Firhouse, where somebody pointed out the pressure that it brings on all families. I note that Tallaght Welfare Society in its pre-budget submission, which I read during the week, made a specific point about the importance of the Government considering pensions in the long term. Even though it is not an issue that rolls off the tongue every day as I go about my business, people understand it needs to be addressed as they realise it is a problem. The former Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, looked at it and I believe the new Minister, Deputy Cullen, is determined to consider the matter in a particular way.

I welcome the Government announcement that consumer rights will again be protected. I welcome the allocation of more than €10 million to the National Consumer Agency. I wish the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, well. I look forward to 5 December. I have no doubt my annual budget leaflet will be just as informative and exciting as in any other year. I am sorry if some of the Opposition spokespersons seem to believe otherwise.

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