Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, to the House. He rightly states that this legislation falls within his remit. I will go a step further and state that I have always been very impressed by the Minister of State and the way in which he has handled his portfolio. He has come before the Oireachtas committee on which I sit on a number of occasions, providing the opportunity for a good question and answer session. It was always evident to me that he had a good grasp of his role and a hands-on approach. Anybody who heard him speaking about the drugs task forces will admit not only that there are few people who have such an intimate knowledge of the subject, but that he is particularly proactive in the community.

It is only right that I reply to the comments of my friend Senator McHugh about the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. I have a high regard for the Minister and I have said so in the House several times. I was glad to hear Senator McHugh giving him some much deserved praise. Although rural Ireland is his forte, he has also proved himself in the area of community work. Any time I have been in his company — recently in Sligo, and in many other parts of the country as well — I have found that people appreciate how in touch with them he is. He listens to them closely. This is important not only in the enactment of legislation but also in its implementation.

When dormant accounts were first discovered, the priority was to ensure that the big financial institutions would not benefit from the money — which did happen — but that it would go to people who were deprived. The Minister of State referred to those who are socially, educationally and economically deprived as well as people with disabilities. I would have been sad if the money were used for other projects because I felt these people were entitled to such consideration. We all talk about the Celtic tiger and the major economic progress that has been made in the country, but no matter what progress is made there will always be categories of people who seem to fall between the cracks. This money was ideal for use in this regard.

So far, I have heard very little criticism of how the money has been used. I would be disappointed if it were ever suggested that under those categories the money was used in the wrong manner. I could not imagine that happening. I do not see anything wrong with public representatives — Deputies, Senators, or local authority members — making representations, because they are at the coalface.