Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I share Deputy Adams's concern that no citizen should be on the streets of our cities homeless. The reasons for this can be many and varied, personal and sensitive. When one talks to those in that position, one learns much from them. I recently met with Society of St. Vincent de Paul personnel, the Simon Community and Sr. Stan and her people in Temple Bar. The programmes they want to implement over the course of several years will go a long way to alleviating this problem.

There are, however, new people who, for whatever reason, will become homeless and take to our streets. In a civilised society and one as well-off as Ireland has been, this should not be a reality. It is, however. When I first entered the House over 30 years ago, there were several people in the locality of Leinster House who were homeless. While attempts were made to house them at various times, they did not want to do it for particular personal reasons.

Deputy Adams can take it that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade will make his recommendation on the ministerial appointment to the Government. The Government is well aware of the nature and scale of the homelessness problem and will do what it can to alleviate it, working with those organisations which do such outstanding work night after night on the streets and byways. The targets set out in the many reports on this problem are achievable and will go a long way in dealing with this problem in a comprehensive fashion. It is not nice and when one speaks to those involved, one learns about their views, about our country and the way it was run and how it should be run in the future.

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