Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I second Senator Bacik's sentiments in acknowledging the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. I acknowledge that today is the tenth anniversary of the killing of 56 people in London on 7 July 2005. This anniversary is almost in the same week as the horrific events in Tunisia. It behoves us to remember what the word terror means. It means putting fear into the hearts of people. I feel very much for the people of Tunisia who fought very hard for their democracy and now see it fading from them as international tourists abandon Tunisia, which is totally understandable.. It is sad to see the democratic regime in Tunisia coming under pressure because of the activities of terrorism.

I congratulate FLAC on the launch of its annual report yesterday. I commend it on the excellent work it does and note that it acknowledges that there was an 80% increase in the number of calls coming in to the office as a result of the current crisis in housing, in the rented sector in particular.

Could I ask the Leader that we have a debate on the issue of access to free legal aid, because at the end of the day, it is a person's ability to vindicate his or her rights that is at issue? I think FLAC has put that on the agenda. It behoves us to examine it and see what we are doing as a House to vindicate that right.