Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

At a meeting of the Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny this morning we reflected on a proposal from the EU Commission, agreed by the Council of Ministers, to set aside a fund to develop intercultural relations. This fund is modest in scale and it is intended that it will be provided from 2008 onwards. The idea is to allow countries to invest money in intercultural dialogue and development.

With the debate on the issue of Travellers in this House and at a broader level across society, we could usefully reflect on the purpose of this fund. We should look for solutions rather than problems, and answers rather than questions. Given that this fund will be provided by Europe, we should try to use some of that money to engage in dialogue with those people who live on the margins of our society and do not feel part of the community. In each case, blame does not lie on any particular side; everybody has work to do. I hope we will be able to utilise that programme to make progress in uniting rather than dividing people.

I support what Senator O'Toole said about energy use and energy need. I hope the Minister for Finance in the budget in three weeks' time will set aside funding for grant aid towards the insulation of the older housing stock. While different grants for housing were available during the years, grants for insulating houses would be worthwhile from an economic and energy conservation points of view.