Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom cuir le formhór an méid atá ráite sa Teach mar gheall ar na dúnmharaithe uafásacha a tharla taobh istigh de cúpla lá. Níl dabht ar bith ach go gcaithfimid uilig sa Teach seo cuir in éadan na heachtraí coiriúla éagsúla. Caithfidh iad siúd a bhfuil eolas acu dul go dtí na údaráis cuí chun an eolas sin a nochtadh. Tá dualgas orainn mar pholaiteoirí, agus go háirithe ar an Rialtas, polasaithe cuimsitheacha a thabhairt isteach chun cuidiú le pobail aghaidh a thabhairt ar an fhadhb seo. Labhair mé sa Teach seo an tseachtain seo caite mar gheall ar polasaí amháin — ba cheart dúinn 4,000 gardaí sa bhreis a chuir ar na sráideanna chun cuidiú le pobail deireadh a chuir leis na eachtraí coiriúla seo atá ag tarlú.

I also wish to raise the student support Bill that was promised by the Minister for Education and Science for early 2007. She made this promise to students last year, as well as prior to the general election. A commitment was also given in a reply to a parliamentary question from a Sinn Féin Deputy. However, the student support Bill has not emerged. As many Members are aware, the USI organised a protest at the gates of Leinster House yesterday, which I had the opportunity to address. The view of the students and my party is that it is essential the student support Bill is published as quickly as possible. However, it is just as important that there is proper consultation with the USI on what is to be included in the Bill. Some local authorities and VECs are holding back grants for various reasons, placing students in financial difficulties and forcing some of them to drop out of college because their grants are not forthcoming.

I wish to pick up on a point made by the deputy leader, Senator Dan Boyle, about the fact that Polish people in Ireland were able to cast their votes in the recent election. Senator Boyle suggested that Irish citizens abroad should be allowed to vote in presidential elections, which I hope is a new direction being taken by the Government. I ask the deputy leader and the Leader to bring this issue to the attention of the Taoiseach. A first step might be to allow Irish citizens not abroad but in this country to vote for the Head of State. Sinn Féin has been making this proposal for many years. If we are seeing a change in direction by the Government, it will be welcomed by Irish citizens north of the Border.