Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree entirely with Senators Barrett and Hayden.

There is little doubt that we must invest. It has been interesting to hear the Government state for a number of years that one reason Ireland has had successful foreign direct investment is because of our high standard of education. Since the onset of austerity, as we call it, resources for universities have been reduced and this would account for the disastrous showings on the rankings. Although I heard Mr. Tom Boland express the opinion this morning that these rankings are not necessarily the only measurements one can have, their importance is recognised around the world and, therefore, we suffer a great deal from anything that would damage them. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has stated we should not assume that austerity is over but should make sure we get it right. As a nation, we still are spending more than we are earning and no family, no home and nobody can continue that way. Consequently, I believe we must consider carefully how we spend and how we earn. While the figures are very good, and Senator Mullins touched on some of them, we have a long way to go before we relax.

If I may take one further case, one district in our island is out of control, namely, north Louth and south Armagh. I refer to the amount of smuggling, including the smuggling of cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol, and diesel laundering that is going on there, which is so out of control that it appears to me as though there is a Mafia up there, running it on both sides of the Border. To a large extent, Members know how this must be solved. Something similar was experienced in Dublin some years ago and it was not until the death of Veronica Guerin that suddenly the Government and the Garda decided to do something about it and to move on it. I believe the death of Adrian Donohoe in Lordship, County Louth, should have been the point, as was the death of Veronica Guerin, when it was decided that something must be done about this. Apparently, it was known who killed Veronica Guerin but the State had difficulty in bringing him to court. Similarly, I believe there is strong knowledge as to who were the culprits in the case of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The Garda and the Minister must move on this as it is something with which we cannot live any longer.