Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in extending our sympathy to the people of Paris and all of the families who lost loved ones in the Charlie Hebdo killings. It brings home very clearly to us all how vulnerable we all are. It would be appropriate for the Minister for Justice and Equality to come before the House to update us at an early stage on any potential security threats in our country. I agree with Senator Norris that human life is human life and many innocent people lose their lives every day in war-torn parts of the world. Reports of young children dying from the cold in refugee camps along the Turkish border close to Syria is something about which we should be deeply concerned.

During this term I would like a discussion with the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, on Syria and associated conflicts.

I strongly support the actions called for by Senators Jim D'Arcy and Diarmuid Wilson on the pollution of our watercourses, the loss of revenue to the State as a result of fuel laundering and petrol stretching, and the damage inflicted on people's vehicles on an ongoing basis as a result of this criminality. This is a very small island and it should be possible to put a stop to it. I am deeply concerned about something I read in some of the newspapers over the weekend, which is that as part of the peace process there may be an understanding that the authorities go easy on paramilitaries who are now involved in criminality.