Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

All Members of the House will welcome the fact that the organisers of a rally that was due to be held in Athlone on Sunday, on foot of the Nally case which was dealt with in the courts last week, have decided not to stage it.

We all have a responsibility to reduce the tensions between the settled and Traveller communities. We should recognise that the State, since its foundation, has been a cold house for the Traveller community. Those of us in positions of responsibility need to ensure that the Traveller community is welcomed and recognised in this country. Adequate accommodation should be given to Travellers to ensure they can have a decent quality of life for themselves and their children. We should also examine the issue of property rights and the question of how people can defend their own homes. That is not just an issue in isolated parts of rural Ireland; it is also an issue in Dublin.

The phenomenon of cars being stolen to order has developed recently. As Senators are aware, forms of security like immobilisers mean that the only way to steal a car today is to rob its keys. People are now breaking into houses in Dublin and other cities to steal car keys. We must examine whether the correct balance has been struck between giving home owners the right to defend their property and ensuring intruders can be brought before the courts.

The election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as President of Liberia — the first female president of an African country — is a positive development. Liberia has been frequently debated in this House because of the involvement of Irish troops in that country over the past two years. We must welcome the fact that Liberia now has a democratically elected government and president and the central role played by Irish troops in ensuring that the country had free and fair elections last Sunday. We should honour the excellent work done by Irish troops in Liberia and recognise that it now has the beginnings of a democratic establishment after the appalling tyranny and dictatorship that prevailed there for many years.