Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Hayden’s comments on the mortgage arrears crisis. While a full debate in the House will not resolve the issue, the presence of the Minister for Finance and a debate would be helpful. This request was made some time ago. It would be appropriate for him to give a favourable response soon.

I also support Senator Gilroy’s comments on our sometimes selective presentation of our shared history on this island, which comments are appropriate as we plan for the centenary of 1916 and beyond. Almost nine years ago I asked in this House that we have a detailed and properly planned run-in to the 1916 centenary commemorations because of the sensitivity surrounding them. The Government is getting the balance as right as it can. It is a challenge to us all in this House and to the public to have an open mind about our history and not to be as judgmental as we can sometimes be. Whether citizens died on O’Connell Street or soldiers died in Gallipoli, they were all Irish and deserve to be remembered equally.

Senator Craughwell raised the issue of Siteserv. I think it was Peter Mandelson who, when advising Tony Blair, pointed out that if an issue remained on the front page of the newspapers for three or four days, it was a serious political issue. This is becoming an issue which requires full disclosure and debate. While the Comptroller and Auditor General may have a role, I heard the view expressed that legislation would have to be passed to enable him or his office to enquire into Siteserv. Ministers can make very clear, concise statements in these Houses on current events, and it would be helpful and appropriate if the Minister in question would come to this or the other House to put on the record the history of the sale from his perspective. Public confidence needs to be restored on commercial decisions where there was a political involvement. The saga of the sale of Siteserv needs to be clarified. It involves taxpayers’ money. There was a significant write-down and the taxpayer is funding the deficit. Clarity and full disclosure of information are required.