Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

I join those who have made favourable comments on the solemn occasion of the Easter 1916 commemoration. I was pleased to be there and all fair-minded people would agree it was a great success.

Every time we pick up a newspaper or hear or see the news, we are told of terrible criminal atrocities being committed with knives and guns. Though we have debated the matter before on many occasions in this House, it is again opportune for the Leader to invite the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to attend the House for a debate. He has always been responsive to such calls. The situation is very serious. Hardly a day passes when someone is not shot or killed in a knife attack.

Over the past few years, we have seen a great increase in the population of this country. That is the result of a number of factors, not least because emigration has all but ceased, while for the first time we have immigration. That is enriching, but there are difficulties with regard to school places. I congratulate the Minister for Education and Science for the great strides she is taking in addressing the problem.

However, those who are making large profits through development will have to come on board and assist in addressing this matter. There are large tracts of land being developed for housing. Those developers should make the appropriate contribution for services. To a large extent that is not happening. In one context it is happening, in another it is not.