Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I point out to the Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, James Connolly's remark that one can judge a society by the treatment given to its lowest class. Is í sin an fhírinne agus bíonn an fhírinne searbh. Déantar tír agus sochaí a thomhas ar an bhealach a chuidítear leo siúd atá leochaileach. The Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, can stand on the plinth outside this Parliament and see the grim reality of homelessness in this city. Night after night, from summer time to the freeze of this winter, people are forced to sleep rough. Five years ago there were 1,281 "excess winter deaths", as the jargon has it. Most of those who died were elderly vulnerable citizens. This year there will be more of them. Many senior citizens are not well treated in this republic. In September, for example, the Government cut the weekly fuel allowances and the household benefits package. Last week it cut fuel allowances by the equivalent of €120.

In addition, great injustices are suffered by citizens in the care of the State. The disgraceful treatment of the five women in St. Brendan's, Grangegorman, is a shocking indictment of our mental health service. Mental health provision remains the Cinderella of our health services. These women should be cherished, not victimised.

See this speech in context