Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

As this is volunteer week, it is appropriate for this House to acknowledge the many voluntary organisations that offer their time not for one or two weeks of the year, but for 52 weeks of the year. I refer, for example, to the many GAA, soccer and rugby clubs and day care centres that are manned by volunteers in parishes throughout the country. Last but by no means least, it is right and proper we should acknowledge the 850 communities throughout the 26 counties who work for and are proud of the places in which they live and who decorate and maintain them not only for their own benefit, but for the benefit of tourists, from Louth to Kerry and from Wexford to Donegal. It is right to acknowledge the significant contribution they make to their communities and to the country. Their contribution cannot be quantified on a monetary basis.