Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I pointed out that outside our gates were members of our older generation who had lost pensions, phone, light, heat, VHI and bereavement and funeral expenses. Individually, these were small amounts, but they add up. These people were outside protesting yesterday. Young second time mothers have lost money, young families and the jobless have lost money.

At the same time, and it is right to do this, we are giving €10 million to deal with the problem of Priory Hall and to help the families who have been out of their homes there for from two to three years. However, not one construction company, county council, architectural or engineering company nor any planner or builder has been brought to book over this. On the one hand, we expect people to take the budget measures on the chin, to understand and get involved in the fact the country is on its knees. We expect them to take all these cuts and decreases on the chin. On the other hand, these people see nobody being brought to book. A Senator spoke here yesterday about the banks. I would like to separate this issue from the issue of the banks and that ongoing investigation.

The construction, engineering, architectural, planning and building sectors have brought this country to its knees in the context of ugliness and homelessness. I cannot understand how we as Senators, even those of us on the Government side, can sit here and expect and argue that these cuts are necessary while there is no sense of justice or fair play for the people with no cuts being applied to the people who caused the problems. I want the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government or the Minister for Public Reform and Expenditure to come to the House to tell me what is being done about the construction companies, county and city councils, architecture and engineering companies, planners and builders who signed off on Priory Hall. It did not just happen as a fantasy. Somebody signed off on it, somebody said "yes" and okayed it. Somebody erected the building and then went home. We are paying for that.

It is right we should pay those people, but this is €10 million that could have been used for the jobless who are now almost criminalised for not having a job. I have traversed the country to talk to young people who are trying to find a way forward.

At the same time, on the cynicism the Senator is talking about, those young people do not see an example of fair play and justice. I just want to find out who is responsible. Could a Minister, or two or three, come in here and tell me that? I will keep saying this until something is done about it.