Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I wish to place on record my thanks to those many men and women in the community and voluntary sector who work tirelessly to help others. They are engaged in daily acts of practical patriotism and that is worthy of recognition and acknowledgment by this House.

The community and voluntary sector is the cement which holds communities together, in particular the slightly disadvantaged communities. Many citizens would have fallen through the cracks if it were not for the work of these very good men and women. Those with disabilities, the young, the elderly, vulnerable families, ethnic minorities, lone parents and those citizens on low and middle incomes who are being pushed further into poverty would be in even greater distress if it were not for the community and voluntary sector. Sinn Féin believes, as my cairde said earlier, there is enormous untapped potential in this sector as a service provider, a source of employment and as an advocate for change. I have seen this in my constituency of Louth. I have seen, for example, citizens working with women victims of domestic abuse, with disadvantaged and disaffected youth, on suicide prevention programmes, on alcohol and drug abuse schemes and working with those who are disadvantaged with learning and other difficulties.

In these difficult economic times, high unemployment and cuts in public services have put special pressure on community organisations. Few of them get mainstream funding. I consider myself a community activist and I am still involved in one or two community organisations. These organisations must spend a huge amount of time chasing funding and trying to put together a cocktail of funding and as the end of the financial year approaches people's contracts come to an end. We would not work under those circumstances and should not expect others to do so.

Tá grúpaí ar an talamh faoi ionsaí díreach go rialta, ach ba chóir don Rialtas iad a mholadh mar gheall ar an obair a dhéanann siad. Tá daoine ag iarraidh go mbéarfaidh lámh chúnta don rannóg phobail deonach seo arís.

Instead of the rhetoric which is sometimes used to praise these organisations, we need to follow through and sustain their efforts. There is widespread anticipation and the Government has signalled that the December budget will see the community and voluntary sector squeezed again. I return continually to the fact that on 2 November, the Government will gift €700 million to bondholders in the toxic Anglo Irish Bank. I know that even a small amount of money, of €5,000, €10,000, €20,000 or €30,000 can make a huge difference to a community running a community project. What could €700 million do in terms of helping our people through these difficult times? Many of these community groups are already suffering from cutbacks. Programmes that help the most vulnerable of people have been targeted and existing posts are at risk. Sinn Féin believes - I would like to think the founder of the Labour Party, James Connolly, would have believed - that the community and voluntary sector should be resourced in a way that removes the uncertainty and the endless effort required to chase after short term funding.

We also believe that people have the right to participate directly in the decision making processes that affect them. I commend to the Government the need to establish the all-Ireland consultative civic forum promised by the Good Friday Agreement to build across the island a system where communities can learn from best practice and where information and ideas can be shared. I urge the Minister to do the decent thing and stand by the election commitments given by his party and support - not decimate - the community sector.

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