Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support the call by Senator Buttimer for a debate on community values and civic responsibility. That is a very urgent debate, in my view. On a weekly, if not daily, basis we are raising the issues of law and order, murders, stabbings and all sorts of terrible deeds. These are all part of the same equation however, namely, the breakdown in civic responsibility, in a sense of community and in the values which we enjoyed in this country. A number of Members, including Senators O'Toole, Norris and myself will be 21 years in the Oireachtas in a few months' time. Over that period, there has been a huge transformation in society. One of the strong negatives is the decline in personal and civic responsibility and in the sense of community and shared values, which was a strong Irish trait for many generations. Interestingly, this has coincided with a significant drop in religious practice, a fall in vocations and a drop in the numbers of priests, nuns and brothers in the country. We have also seen a major attack on society and standards and values. All of these issues should form part of the debate, which should not be exclusive to this House. I welcome the call for such a debate.

I support Senator Cummin's comments regarding the need for an early notification from the Taoiseach of a date for the European referendum on the Lisbon treaty. It is interesting that an enormous number of people in the country are discussing the forthcoming United States election. It is on the front page of almost every newspaper, on the television every second night and groups of people in pubs and clubs are discussing an election in which we have no say, good, bad or indifferent. We have an election coming our way in a few months' time which is of much greater long-term significance to this House and the Irish people than the election in the American presidential election, namely the referendum on the Lisbon treaty. We must engage the public. An early announcement from the Taoiseach and a substantial debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas, as well as the various committees, would be helpful and necessary if we want to engage the people in an election where they actually have a say as opposed to the November election in the United States where, despite all our bleating, we have no say whatsoever.