Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments made on the attacks of the Office of the President. It must be remembered it was not an attack on the person of Michael D. Higgins but an attack on the institution of the presidency. That is something that should give pause for thought to the members of the public who have increasingly become disillusioned with party politics. Perhaps we have a responsibility collectively in that regard. At the same time, however, it is incumbent on us as democrats in the Chambers of the national Parliament that we take each and every opportunity to condemn outright any attempt to undermine the democratic nature of our society. That is essentially what that attack was about. Whether those people thought about it or believed it, that is fundamentally what it was about.

I also support the call by Senator Craughwell for a debate on the Defence Forces. They have always been the Cinderella section of government, despite the fact the majority of the people supports their peacekeeping efforts and the need to have them in all their various facets.

I support Senator Paul Coghlan's call for a debate on the whole housing issue. The Construction Industry Federation has been quoted in the media recently as stating new housebuilding effectively stopped over the last several months because of the uncertainty surrounding the whole issue of mortgage requirements. I do not think that is acceptable. Maybe because it is a lobby organisation, it is spinning a certain story. Essentially, however, if there is a real problem with housebuilding, particularly in the greater Dublin area, then there is a need for the Government and local councils to intervene legislatively, or otherwise, to ensure builders build those houses because the demand is plainly there. I welcome the initiative by Senator Coghlan in this regard and hope the Leader will respond positively to it.