David Norris (Independent)

I support Senator Mooney without giving any further reason and I hope we will have a debate on this tragic situation. Will the Leader ask the Government to approach the British representative here to ask for an explanation of the fact that apparently Britain has provided money for war veterans of the Second World War to visit war graves in recognition of what they did but it appears to have specifically excluded the Irish? I know this is a bureaucratic technicality because it was generated by British lottery funds and it is supposed to spend those funds only on British citizens. It seems outrageous given some 50,000 people from southern Ireland volunteered — they did not have to fight. They deserve some degree of recognition. It would not kill the British Government to put in a few extra pounds to make it possible for Irish veterans, who so generously volunteered, to visit war graves.

Perhaps the Government could also be asked to raise the cases of those who were shot at dawn during the First World War, including a very famous Irish Private, Patrick Joseph Downey, who refused to replace on his head a cap that was wet and gangrenous. These people deserve to be pardoned. Let us ask the British Government to treat the Irish, who behaved so well in its army over the years, properly.

Can we return to the issue of traffic and its management? I heard today again on the radio that the speed limit on a section of the dual carriageway at Loughlinstown has been reduced from 70 mph to 40 mph. There may be some roadwork reason for this, but I do not know whether that is the case. It brings into contempt the whole question of observance of speed limits and it makes the imposition of fines and penalty points grossly unfair. I raised this matter in a debate with the Minister who said this was under the remit of local authorities. That should not be the case any longer. There should be a national authority and if the people are to regard these speed limits with any sense, they should be consistent and not chaotic.