Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I pay tribute to the efforts of the two unarmed gardaí in rescuing Julien and Emma Flynn and their family from the armed raid on their home in Lackagh village on Sunday, 15 February. I am sure all Members of the House will join me in praising their courage and professionalism. Perhaps the Leader of the House will relay the congratulations of the House to the members of Oranmore Garda station via the Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy. We all should be very proud of our police force and the work it does on behalf of the civilians, and of the courage and bravery of those two young gardaí, who went there unarmed and faced four or five very heavily armed robbers who tied up and terrorised the family. It was a terrible crime and I hope those involved will be brought to justice as quickly as possible.

On the Corrib gas field, I ask the Leader of the House, Senator Donie Cassidy, to ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to update the House on the development by Shell of the Corrib natural gas project. In the current economic situation, it is vital that the State takes maximum benefit from the project in terms of royalties.