Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleague, Senator Higgins in her call for the debate on the future of the community employment and Tús schemes. These schemes have operated very effectively in County Galway and in the west and we want to ensure they are safeguarded. It is important to hear what are the plans for them.

I agree with everything Senator Darragh O'Brien said about the variable interest rates. He rightly said that I raised this matter last week. I know the Leader will not be in a position to accede to the amendment to the Order of Business today but I would like an urgent debate on this issue. There is no justification whatsoever for the interest rates being charged by the main banks, given the low ECB rate. It is true that more than 300,000 people are being ripped off and this matter needs to be addressed. I call on Government to respond to the various cries for help being made by so many people.

I welcome the fact that €12 million was pledged yesterday by the Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock on behalf of the Government at a major humanitarian conference for Syria, which was held in Kuwait. The conference is designed to raise €7.7 billion to help almost 18 million people in Syria and in the region. The conflict in Syria has cost more than 200,000 lives to date and more than 12 million people are in need of ongoing humanitarian aid. Ireland's contribution will help fund some lifesaving humanitarian aid and some short-term relief but what is deeply troubling is that there is little progress in bringing the conflict to an end. The international community appears indifferent to the innocent people that are being barred or banned. Humanitarian aid is being prevented from reaching vulnerable people and the Assad regime appears to be acting with impunity. This conflicts has gone on for four years and appears to be worsening. I would like to have a further debate or discussion on Syria with the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock or the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan.

International attention needs to continue to be focussed on the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. There appears to be little or nothing happening to resolve this appalling situation, where so many innocent women and children as well as men are losing their lives on a daily basis. Millions of people are being displaced. The issue of whether Ireland should take additional refugees also needs to be addressed.