Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

On the Order of Business, perhaps Members should have a debate on planning and development as notwithstanding that the motion before the House is to be taken without debate, as Senator O'Toole noted, this is an important issue. I have called for such a debate previously and when considering the future, in which there obviously will be much less construction, it will be important to consider the issues pertaining to planning, perhaps with a view to relaxing certain restrictions in rural and regional Ireland in particular.

I also call for a debate on public procurement. I acknowledge that Ireland has obligations, as a full member of the European Union, in respect of participating in the various tendering processes and in advertising any public works in the EU Journal. However, we are in extraordinary times at present and such times require extraordinary measures. I ask for a debate pertaining to public procurement with a view to favouring Irish tenders where possible or, in so far as is possible, to go back to the most appropriate of Irish tenders within groups of international tenders. It never has been more important to try to keep at home a certain level of expenditure and investment. I refer to the smallest of items such as, for example, the uniforms worn here in Leinster House. Although they are manufactured in Belgium at present, they were manufactured in the west for many decades before that. When such items come up for renewal, perhaps we should consider buying Irish to the extent that our European constraints allow. Moreover, I saw a report this morning to the effect that the HSE sources all of its bacon and pork products from outside this jurisdiction. Perhaps there are ways in which this issue can be examined. Our money would be best spent in supporting employment within this jurisdiction at present and Members should play a role in trying to enhance such measures.

I wish to demonstrate my complete and unequivocal support for the condemnation of the horrific murders in the north of Ireland. As Senator Fitzgerald noted, there is no British life or Irish life; there is human life, which says it all. Members must be resolute and completely united in their condemnation of such recklessness towards a peace process that has been a great success. There can be no substitute for peace and the murders and criminality that have been carried out over the past three days are to be condemned by all who call themselves reasonable people in these modern times. We have moved on from the dark days of violence of the past and it is only through democratic means that we will grow our ambitions, whether towards a united Ireland or otherwise.