David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I find this inter-party bickering immensely depressing. In this difficult period we should be putting the interests and welfare of citizens first, not any kind of party advantage. I hope we will join together to try to help people. I accept things are difficult and tight and the Government is in a difficult position. I have attended numerous briefings in recent days and what impressed me ? I hope somebody will be appointed from Government to look at this ? was that so many of the organisations have produced either budget?neutral proposals or ones that will save the Exchequer money. There is a kind of bureaucratic hold-up in implementing such measures. We must examine them. If we can help people in a situation where it does not cost the Exchequer much money we must grab those opportunities with both hands.

Yesterday, I attended the Family Support Network in which wonderful people are involved. Some of them are neighbours of mine from the north inner city. I stood with the late Deputy Tony Gregory ? I was in this House and he was in the Dáil. He was the person who introduced the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, which generated a lot of money from the drugs industry through the operations of the Garda and social services. I wanted the money to go back into the areas affected by drugs.

We need to look at this. As my colleagues know, I have often raised circumstances in which inappropriate agency staff were used, people who did not even speak English, who did not know anything about drug regimes, who were sometimes drunk.

I have a direct and very specific question. Motion 9, proposed by two Independent colleagues and myself, condemns sexual violence in conflict, affirms Ireland's commitment to the UN Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security and to playing a role in efforts to end sexual violence, and supports the efforts of organisations to draw attention to and denounce sexual violence. So far, two colleagues have signed the motion. I am sure all will because it is non-contentious and has been passed by other countries. I am sure colleagues in all parties would wish to support this.