David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise the issue of Fitzgibbon Street police station. I have raised this on a number of occasions and was told it was being closed for refurbishment and would be reopened. This is not true. It is closed for refurbishment in order to become a hostel for the homeless. The police station will be closed. The gardaí in the area are quite upset about this. In Dublin 1, there is a serious drugs problem and a problem with break-ins. To reduce the effect of policing in the area is completely insane. I already said when there were prospects of opening a place for drug addicts in Parnell Street, which already has one such facility, that our backyard in Dublin 1 was full up. We have done our duty. I am very sensitive to the plight of homeless people and have spoken on this subject on many occasions in the House but I am not sure that what is proposed represents an appropriate use of the facilities. I am concerned, in particular, about the reduction in policing. If what I describe is going ahead, can we have a clear, honest statement about it? Can we know what supervision and follow-up care will be in place for these people? They should not just be dumped there. Is the hostel to be wet or dry?

I wish to follow up on what Senator Darragh O'Brien said about pyrite. The Senator has very adequately represented the people with regard to this very difficult problem. I understand the builder responsible for a development in Lusk has denied responsibility and said it a problem for the quarry people. He has not done refurbishment work on many of the houses and has now applied for planning permission for another development. It is insane to let somebody who walks away from responsibilities to get planning permission for another development before looking after his duties towards the residents in the first development.

I support what my colleague Senator Bacik said on the subject of euthanasia. It was quite ridiculous that a woman should be prosecuted for making travel arrangements. This all looks back to the X case where a young girl was imprisoned. What are we at? The woman involved in this case paid tribute in a very dignified and balanced statement to the sympathetic way in which the Garda dealt with it. The Garda is not to blame. We, as legislators, are to blame. There should be provision for euthanasia. As a citizen, it is my right. If I am in intolerable pain or have absolutely no quality of life, I see no reason I should not be allowed to make the decision, which, as an able-bodied person, one is able to make. One can take one's own life in these circumstances. Just because somebody is disabled seems to be no reason to discriminate against him or her in allowing him or her to make this choice.