Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I thank Senator Healy Eames for sharing her time and I shall be brief because I know other speakers want to come in.

I congratulate the Minister of State on this. There is a long and proud tradition of volunteering in Ireland, and I believe the Minister of State is encouraging that today. Senator Healy Eames talked about being in Australia or somewhere. I was in Beijing last month at the end of the Olympics and there were something like 1.3 million volunteers, 70,000 each day, working with such pride. They were saying they were happy to volunteer and proud to do this. I do not recall whether they were wearing badges, but they were a long way from the action. It is understandable when people are recognised and the pride they have in their effort. We must find a way to encourage people to do something, without there necessarily being a reward, because of the satisfaction involved. Remember the saying, giving is more rewarding than receiving. It is something we must encourage people to do and I believe it may happen at the individual level.

Many Irish institutions have their roots in voluntary work, whether church, school credit unions or whatever. It comes down to individual people. I was coming out of La Guardia Airport in the United States on one occasion and looking for White Plains. I asked directions from a man picking up a rental car. I could not follow his directions so he said he would show me. When we passed a toll booth, I was told that the guy in front had paid for me. The same happened at the next toll booth. The benefit I got from that one little gesture has encouraged me to do something similar as I travel around.

If it can manage to encourage citizens to contribute in little ways like this, then when it comes to the bigger issues, whether credit unions, church or sport, the country will be a better place from all the volunteerism it is possible to achieve.