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

I almost was going to ask who told the Ceann Comhairle I was from Tallaght. First, I thank him for giving me the opportunity to make my brief contribution to this important debate. I am mindful that Members and the Ceann Comhairle have had a long morning. School groups from Athboy, Tipperary, Blackrock and Ringsend have been visiting the Gallery this morning and I am sure they all have been fascinated by what is going on. While I am sorry there were no visitors from Tallaght, it is good to have young people in the Gallery to witness the business of the House.

Other colleagues have spoken of the different political times in which we find ourselves. It occurred to me yesterday that I have been around these streets for a long time. I sometimes remark that I am not from where people assume, as I was born around these parts, attended school in Clarendon Street and lived in Stephen Street. I am not afraid to admit the streets of Dublin yesterday were a different place. This morning, I reflected that Members often have seen groups on the streets such as teachers, nurses, doctors, farmers and anti-war protesters. I am a proud Dubliner but to my knowledge, the kind of scenes witnessed yesterday were unprecedented. While the students' protest was to be expected, the number of elderly people was not. I am not afraid to make this point from the Fianna Fáil benches as my mother and grandmother, who came from these parts, would wish it.

Members should reflect on what happened over the past week. This morning, instead of coming in on the Luas, as I often try to do, I drove in for other reasons. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Noel Ahern, who is present, will be pleased to hear it did not take me very long. While so doing, I had the opportunity to listen to "The Tubridy Show" on RTE Radio 1, as I often do. Ryan Tubridy conducted an excellent interview for more than half an hour with the great Frank Kelly, who is known for his work on "Wanderly Wagon", "Father Ted" and so on. It was an amazing, up-to-date and relevant discussion on the times we are in. I am sure Frank Kelly will not object to me stating that he made the point that he would have hoped those politicians who went out to address the protestors would have been allowed to speak. While I merely repeat his remarks, and not in a demeaning way, he made a fair point in this regard. I listened carefully to the interview, in which highly relevant points were made about the kind of day that was experienced in Dublin yesterday and on the reasons people were out on the streets to protest.

I always have been strongly in favour of the citizenship model. Without being flippant, I often have observed that I was not born a politician. I became involved in politics through becoming upset and agitated about different issues that affected my community when I moved to Tallaght. People encouraged me, which is how I became involved in politics. I will not forget where I am from and will not forget the issues that are of concern to my community. The Ceann Comhairle is aware that, in so far as is possible, I spend all day, every day in my constituency. Over the past week, I certainly have not hidden away. I have been out on the streets and in the shopping centres, including the Square, as well as outside the schools in my constituency.

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