Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I call for a debate on the relationship between freedom and responsibility in our society. I do so in the context of two issues which have been already raised by colleagues. One is the horrible murders of the two Polish gentlemen in Drimnagh and the second is the very bad news from a small town I know very well in my county where a number of male students in a second level school set upon, bound and gagged a female student and filmed her in a way that shocks and appals. We are dealing with urban and rural horrors that amount to the same thing, which is a shocking disregard for the person. I was listening to the radio this morning. At times like this we hear criticism of politicians and we hear people giving out about facilities. However, it is much deeper. There is a crisis of values in our society. There is certainly a crisis in parenting and in family life. Contrary to what my esteemed colleague, Senator Norris, said the challenge being faced by families is not an argument for stretching further the definition of family. It is an argument for recognising that families cannot be families in isolation; they need social support.