Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senators for their contributions as they raised interesting issues, of which all of us are aware. I have served on a local authority and I acknowledge the point raised by Senator O'Meara and others about losing the people with the greatest ability within a community to harness the energies of those around them in leading committees and encouraging social development. Not all of us have the necessary social and interpersonal skills. The danger in encouraging people to do the right thing is that this creates a residual effect for those left behind and that is something of which we must be mindful.