Seanad debates

Thursday, 14 October 2010

10:30 am

Photo of Labhrás Ó MurchúLabhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

The rescue of the Chilean miners has captured the imagination of the whole world. What we have seen is the seemingly impossible made possible. The Chilean President put it exceptionally well when he said Chile would never be the same again, that the people were more united than they had ever been before. The reason they are united is they united in the face of adversity. There is no nation that can identify with that philosophy and achievement more than Ireland. Looking back on our history, we overcame what had seemed like insurmountable obstacles. One thing we discovered was that there was no boundary to the triumph of the human spirit, unless we ourselves put obstacles in the way. Like many other countries, Ireland is in a very deep hole economically. We can continue digging or come up with a plan, unite and try to get back onto terra firma once more. I have been listening to and contributed to the debates in this House since we first became the country was in recession. I have heard many positive voices, of people of vast experience, all of whom are very honourable in their own right, and now see light at the end of the tunnel, whether it is in the letter from the Taoiseach or the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley. From where the letter comes does not matter. What matters is the problems and the human toll - people who cannot repay mortgages, do not have jobs or hope and confidence. In the name of God, let us take inspiration from what we have seen in recent days in Chile because if we do not, history will not be kind to us for remaining idle at a time like this.

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