Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Kyne in the relation to the sheep farmers. He made a very fair case about the concerns they have now. There is an issue. I acknowledge that the Minister has spoken to us about this issue. I spoke to him last week and he is going to bring a package forward. It would be a good idea if he came before the House to have a discussion about this. He knows the sector very well, particularly his own county and the west and north-west. He is very aware of the difficulties sheep farmers have at the moment, particularly regarding the markets. We have increased our lamb exports and that is good.

I want to express my support for the Women of Honour and what they have done. On reflection, I can remember hearing stories, many from young privates in the Army, down through the years from people telling me they were bullied. It was not sexual harassment, but they were bullied. We might find there are more people than we would like to think who were involved in this. On one occasion, a private described to me how it felt as if there was a boot on his neck all the time because he was always being picked on by a person of a higher rank who was his boss. In my view, the senior person had no right to do this. I hope all of these people are outed because they should be. We owe a lot to the Women of Honour. I am sure the Minister and the Government are going to make sure all of these people are heard properly now because it is time to get rid of all of the unsavoury carry-on that went on.

I do not believe in getting into an argument over housing but I heard Senator Gavan as I was coming here. The claims from him and others that some of us do not care about people who may be facing eviction must stop. Every single person here cares. None of us wants such a thing to happen. As we go forward in this debate, I hope everyone will pull together to look after people who need to be looked after. Schemes and systems have been put in place by the Government and everybody will work on them. If there is an honest criticism to be made, we have to take it but let us not be putting out the message that some of us do not care. We all care.