Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to speak about the Building Community Resilience report on the Dublin south-central area, where I live. The report covers an area that radiates out from the Liberties. As other Senators have said, this problem affects more than one area in the country. The dogs on the street know this. I am on the street, and I know it. I am a Liberties girl. I was born, reared and educated in the area and I work there. I remember a time when I worked as a Saturday girl in Frawley's of Thomas Street. That was the hub where all working-class people went. Frawley's sold affordable items in every category. It was an Aladdin's cave. It shut down quite a long time ago. When I asked why it was closing, I was told it was closing because there were no more poor people in Dublin. I do not know what that reason was. I am on the ground. I work in that area. I do not ignore the people. I have heard it said that people do not bother to come out to vote because they cannot be arsed. I apologise because that is probably not parliamentary language.