Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Over the weekend I started reading the book written by the woman who was a central character in that debate. It is absolutely incredible. I would welcome a debate on the matter.

Last week I raised the Marino college case. I put on record my thanks to the Leader of the House for raising it with the Minister for Education and Science. I welcome the fact that the Minister has now put in train an investigation into one aspect of the issue. I appreciate that and thank the Leader.

It does not take much analysis to work out what happened to David Trimble. We discussed the Good Friday Agreement many times in the House. The Agreement was very clear. A crucial, fundamental and essential part of it was that the IRA would stand down, that there would be total decommissioning and demilitarisation. That was the message David Trimble tried to sell to his followers and to the Ulster Unionist Party.

At some stage in the past couple of years UUP followers or members came to the same conclusion many people in this House had come to previously, namely, that decommissioning, demilitarisation and putting arms beyond use was not going to happen. Therefore, the UUP voters lost trust and confidence in the Agreement and voted against David Trimble. That is what happened. It does not require a very complex analysis.

As Senator Brian Hayes said, we are now faced with the difficulty of putting the pieces back together. That essentially means trying to gain and win the trust and confidence of a significant portion of the Unionist community. That is the challenge that is before us and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair. I do not know how we are going to do this but we do have to look at it. I would welcome a debate so people could put forward creative ideas as to how we might achieve that objective.

Last weekend a garda in Carrickmacross went to investigate something suspicious on the bridge in the town. For doing his duty he found himself grappled with and thrown over the bridge. He is still in hospital with numerous fractures. The way things are in society, it is hardly worth more than half a paragraph in the newspapers. It is quite appalling that a public servant, a guardian of the peace, working on our behalf should be treated so badly.

Last Friday in a little post office in Glasnevin which was being held up, an African man went to the aid of staff. At great personal risk, he threw himself at the man who was holding up the post office, grappled with him and they both went through the window. He held the man down until gardaí arrived. The first thing the gardaí heard was the man on the ground who had been attempting to rob the post office say: "I want this man sued." That is the point we have reached in society. Litigious Ireland has gone beyond all control. We must have some indication from the Minister on how we can change attitudes in this area so we can stand together.