Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The Minister with responsibility for community affairs has not been invited to the House since we resumed this session. This morning we have read and heard in this Chamber of the breakdown of Irish society. Those of us involved in community life, schools and sport know there is a need for a debate on the pressures exerted on young families forced to spend an inordinate amount of time stuck in traffic and who have to pay for child care and repay mortgages, thus requiring both parents having to work. In many ways what Senator Ó Murchú said is correct. There is a breakdown in society led by poor Government leadership. I request the Leader to arrange for a debate on the creation of sustainable communities and the way in which the Government, which promised zero tolerance on crime ten years ago, has abandoned any policy on justice and law order here.

I also request a debate on our integration policy. Basketball Ireland gave a great presentation at the Joint Committee on Sport and Tourism yesterday on the role it plays in integrating people into this country. It is a lesson from which we could learn. As is evident this morning, our integration policy is not working. Such a debate is urgently required.