Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join other colleagues in welcoming the Taoiseach's apology on behalf of every one of us to the former residents of the Magdalen laundries. I congratulate him on the sincere, cool and honest way he delivered his contribution. I also congratulate the other speakers, including the leader of my own party, who apologised for doing nothing during the 14 years he was in government.

I support the leader of the Fianna Fáil group, Senator Darragh O'Brien, in again calling on the Minister for Justice and Equality to come into the Chamber to address the very serious difficulties arising in the ranks of An Garda Síochána. I have never witnessed such low morale among the gardaí I meet on a day-to-day basis in my county town and throughout the country. The morale of gardaí is at rock bottom because of the way they are being treated by the Minister. I had occasion to see how he treated members of the Defence Forces in my county and I am not going to allow that to happen to members of An Garda Síochána also.

Let me draw the attention of the Leader to a headline in one of the national newspapers that indicates that one of the major banks, AIB, is proposing to increase interest rates for mortgage holders. On what planet are the bankers living? I ask the Leader to please communicate with the Minister for Finance about the proposed increase which will drive hard-pressed mortgage holders over the cliff. It will be the final straw. AIB is only the stalking horse for the other banks which will also increase their interest rates. The Minister must be asked what he will do about this proposal.