Seanad debates

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

2:30 pm

Photo of Cecilia KeaveneyCecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I add my voice to the calls for the situation in the Passport Office to be resolved. I know of the case of a person who applied ten weeks ago and, when an inquiry was made two weeks ago, the Passport Office told the person it did not know where the application was and that the person should apply again. The person is going on holidays next week and thought ten weeks notice was sufficient given we are being told 20 days is the current turnaround.

I wish to raise an issue which also concerns the discommoding of the public on this island but which is not getting a fair airing. I ask the Leader for a debate on republicanism and what it means to be a republican. Those who are called dissident republicans are creating terror across Ulster. On Friday, one could not go anywhere in Derry without getting involved in some sort of scare. At present, no one can travel between Belfast and Dublin without impediment owing to a device that has been in place since Friday. When members of the PSNI, which we all voted as the new police service of Northern Ireland, went to deal with the device, they were shot at.

We have been talking about the discommoding of people going abroad on their holidays or business. While I agree it is a serious issue, people on this island, old and young, are being discommoded when travelling for business or pleasure and must get on and off buses and trains or drive their cars not knowing whether they are safe or unsafe. People driving around a town, trying to get from A to B, collecting children from school, shopping and trying to do their business do not know whether they will be safe. In addition, a device was found today in Molesworth Street.

I ask that we evaluate what type of republic we are looking for. Do we want a republic where those who are undemocratic are allowed to run rampant or do we want a republic where everyone is treated with equality, respect dignity and democracy?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.