Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join with others in paying my respects to the late Paul Coghlan. He was a joy to know. He was a humorous and kind man. He had a good outlook on life and always saw the bright side of things, no matter what uncertainty. It was a privilege to have been here with him for a while. I got to know him over the years because I knew him before I came into the House.

I also express my support for the firefighters. I am quite hopeful that the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and the Government will be quite positive on this. It is not that they are holding back on anything at all. They have to get this right. I am hopeful that the money will be released to improve the firefighters’ circumstances. When a firefighter leaves their job, they have to drop everything they are at as a farmer, as somebody on the factory floor or whatever. Of course, as was correctly said, they have to live within their own areas. When the time comes, they must go. We have to be cognisant of the fact that they are involved in saving lives, saving people's houses and going out to accidents on roads, and in quite a lot of rescue. I do not think there is anybody who does not support better pay for them. In some cases in some aspects of employment in the private sector, wages are reduced if they are away for three or four hours. I am very supportive of them.

Finally, legislation regarding credit unions is going through at the moment. It is a significant day for County Roscommon because when Bank of Ireland pulled out of Strokestown and Elphin, it devastated the whole area. Basically, as far as it could, the credit union has taken up the slack. Thanks to the Roscommon Credit Union manager, we have four new ATMs in our towns. Business people and others were so depressed when the banks pulled the plug the way they did. What they did was shameful. It is great to see the credit unions. We had the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, down this morning and she is very enthusiastic about her job. Along with the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, in the past, and the Ministers, Deputies McGrath and Donohoe, she has been very conscious of the need to give further support to credit unions. The Central Bank still has too much of a hold on credit unions. In respect of the reserves they have, that matter needs to be dealt with.We could have a debate on that, allowing for the fact that legislation is going before the House. It will not affect that issue.