Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator O'Brien and others on the banking issue. I was in the company of a banker yesterday evening who was speaking about the property market generally and who said that, as of September, there would be many more signs going up. This is something that bankers are very much embracing, which is regrettable.

In arguing about the threat of suicide, we must be careful that we do not use it as a new buzzword for pressure. I do not mean this to be disrespectful in any way. A measured debate on this would be useful, but we do not want to be bandying the word "suicide" about as if it were a common everyday occurrence, although it is obvious that people are really suffering because of the current economic pressures.

As the deadly civil war in Syria continues, it is right that more than 100 peacekeepers from Ireland are being sent there to play a sensitive role in keeping the peace in the disputed Golan Heights region. The Irish contingent will be in place on the front line by early September. It is right that Ireland play its part in contributing to peacekeeping alongside other members of the international community. The United Nations requested Irish soldiers following the decision by the Austrian Government to end its military involvement in the region. I pay tribute to the work done by its peacekeepers during the mission. Our deployment of 114 troops has been approved by the Cabinet this week. I wish our peacekeepers in Syria and elsewhere well. They have the support of the House.