Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Order of Business (Resumed).

 

11:00 am

Photo of Camillus GlynnCamillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Ar nós na Seanadóirí eile, cuirim fáilte roimh an seans a bheidh againn stádas na Gaeilge a phlé níos déanaí inniu. Beidh gach Seanadóir in ann a gcuid tuairimí ar an ábhar sin a chur in iúl. Tá sé fíor go bhfuil an teanga faoi bhrú.

Now that the economy has slowed, particularly in terms of planning, it would be timely to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House and to ask him to use his good offices in liaising with local authorities to expedite the granting of planning permissions and fire safety certificates. Evidence suggests a considerable delay. While that delay was understandable in the past ten or 11 years, the excuse of numbers no longer exists.

Irrespective of whether we like it, the building industry is important. However, we are not discussing that industry alone. Rather, we are discussing individuals whose applications for planning permission have been delayed considerably. I would welcome a debate on the matter.

I congratulate the Garda on apprehending six or seven people in Drumshanbo in County Leitrim who had been running a cannabis growing facility, about which I heard on radio. They were members of a well known Oriental gang affiliated with a notorious Oriental outfit. Several years ago in the House, I raised other matters pertaining to gangs, but my comments were rubbished. I was told that there was no evidence to suggest that foreign gangs were operating in Ireland, but I have been proven right, as every Senator knows.

Ours is a country with a proud history in welcoming people to our shores, but we could do without the people in question. As far as I am concerned, they have no place in this country or society. If they want to ply their evil trade, they should return to where they came from. As every Senator knows, tolerance for it in their country of origin is far less than the tolerance exhibited in Ireland.

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