Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I concur with what Senator Craughwell said about the film "Lost Lives" which was screened last night. I thank Senator Marshall for bringing it to Leinster House and I thanks all those who attended the screening. I particularly want to acknowledge the fact the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, was there for the duration of the film, which sends a message in terms of his interest in shaping things going forward. It is a profoundly powerful film, probably one of the most powerful things I have ever watched, covering the 3,700 lives that were lost. What really came across is the human tragedy, not the political thing or anything else, but the human tragedy - the mothers, the sons, the brothers, the sisters and the fathers. I thought Michael Hewitt and Dermot Lavery, the producers, did a brilliant job of transposing David McKittrick's book. I recommend that everyone watch the film. Too many people commentate on the conflict in the North, the tragedy involved and all of that, without really understanding. I appeal to the media in this regard. Why this film is particularly important is that, time and again, we have the media looking for the sensational headline. It is almost like watching a game of tennis, backwards and forwards, and it serves to polarise people. I am mindful that, today, elections are taking place in Britain and the North. Again, the polarising of politics and the polarising of people is so dangerous for our society. The media plays a role in that regard. I urge all journalists in the broadcast and print media to take time out - just an hour and a half - to look at "Lost Lives". It was filmed in a very sensitive and balanced way that gives the picture of the human tragedy that we all must work to make sure never, ever happens again.

I wish to refer briefly to vulture funds. I will talk about the matter in greater detail next week. There are headlines today about the interest rates being raised by the vulture funds and the flipping over of loans. I put a question to the Central Bank on this matter last week. I see what is happening here in the context of what occurred in the US property market before the crash. Bundles of loans are continually being flipped over in expectation of big profits and high returns. The tragedy at the end of it all is that we have thousands of people who are under threat of being homeless in the months ahead.