Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I support Senators Kelly and Leyden in the matter of the prohibition of turf-cutting. Clarity needs to be brought to the matter. I hope the negotiations taking place can be brought to a successful and full conclusion. I also hope everyone involved will be prepared to compromise because it is an issue that can divide communities which I hope it does not come to over the coming months.

I am in a particularly positive mood this afternoon because over the weekend we had many positive activities in County Galway. Yesterday, in my hometown of Ballinasloe a €1 million child care facility was opened by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald. On Friday, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, announced 80 new jobs at SourceDogg in Dangan. This morning, funding of €3 million was announced for transport projects in Galway city.

Remaining in a positive vein, thousands of talented people exited from the public service over the past several weeks and as many people have retired in their early 50s. Hopefully, all of them will enjoy good health for the next 20 years. This is a significant resource that should be tapped into by the State. Many of the people in question would like to give something back now they are retired with secure pensions. They can give advice and mentoring in business, education and health care. I would like if this resource could be tapped into and utilised in some structured way. Will the Leader organise a short debate in the coming weeks with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to see how this goodwill and energy among those retired people who want to give back to the State can be harnessed? We are at a point where the country needs all the help it can get. If people are willing to give voluntarily of their services for the good of the nation, we should avail of that facility.