Joe O'Toole (Independent)

As a Kerryman, it grieves me to say that I am equally embarrassed and nauseated by the reports in today's newspapers. I do not know the background to it, but I find it nauseating that a victim should be sent to Coventry and boycotted. While I can fully understand how neighbours would sympathise with anybody found guilty of a crime, as that is a natural instinct, I cannot understand how the victim could be left alone, frightened, boycotted and effectively left without any support. I do not know the background to the story, but it certainly reflects very poorly on us as a society. It is worrying in many respects because it sends us back to the old days when women were considered chattels.

We passed the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009 yesterday. I spoke trenchantly against it and voted against every part of it. I found it to be an utterly unacceptable Bill. However, the Minister offered her time all day yesterday. She answered all the questions, took it on the chin and defended an appalling Bill. That is the way the House should work and it is good to see Ministers doing their work. It does not take from how bad the Bill is, and it will never be forgotten.

In spite of the fact that we spent €500 million on a new road at Kilcullen connecting two major motorway systems, there was a story in this morning's newspapers that following the intervention of local Fianna Fáil TDs, the Minister for Transport decided to defer the opening of a vital piece of motorway, which would get rid of a dangerous piece of single lane road. Representations were made by these politicians on behalf of local traders. I did not believe this, but it is reported today in The Irish Times. The Minister is quoted as saying that following representations from local Fianna Fáil TDs, the road is not opening. Can we all share the embarrassment of this? I ask the Minister to change that decision. The National Roads Authority has stated the road is finished and ready to open on Monday.

We have fought for this road for many years. There will be a huge amount of traffic on it in the week before Christmas. We are putting people onto a dangerous road for no reason other than because of "Ballymagash" type representations on behalf of a few local traders. It is unacceptable and I call on the Minister to change his mind and make sure the motorway opens for Christmas week so that motorists going to and from that area can do so safely.