Cuirim le focail mo chomhghleacaithe i dtaca leis na daoine a chaill a saolta tráthnóna inné i dtimpiste ar an uisce in iarthar Chorcaí - another tragedy at sea. Unfortunately, this time of year brings an increase in the number of such occurrences and it is extremely sad, particularly for those involved and their extended families. It is most unfortunate that west Cork has again been hit with this sort of tragedy. Our sympathy goes to those families today.

I wish to address the Greek issue and the question of the founding principles of the European Union and where they are today. The founding principles go back to the Treaty of Rome and involve issues of integration and solidarity with other member states and citizens. Those principles are being quickly eroded. Solidarity means assisting other people. When we see the pictures of people trying to get food and scraps from rubbish bins in Greece, particularly elderly pensioners, and hear stories of schoolchildren fainting in the classroom because they have no food, it is apparent that the founding principles of solidarity are being challenged. An international protectionist system is being used, through democratic institutions of government, where international financial speculators and the capital markets are being protected by democracies. That is wrong.

Well said.

We must have a debate about this issue because the central pillar of the European Union in its founding form, together with the euro, is under threat. At what cost do we protect the euro? Is it at the cost of lives or of children dying? How dare the German Finance Minister ask or instruct the ECB not to intervene?

Exactly.

The ECB was supposed to be independent but the Germans seem to think they control it. How dare the Taoiseach stand up to protect capitalism in a world where hunger is allowing people to die. If we believe in the Europe that was founded by the Treaty of Rome, there should be solidarity and integration at Europe's core. That is not happening and, as democrats, we need to stand up for it.

Our Greek colleagues are in desperate shape. I am very friendly with a Member of Parliament there who wrote to me on Monday saying she could not believe this was happening so quickly and that she might not be a European by the weekend. Of course, she will still be a European, but this is the result of reckless leadership by the Greeks themselves----

By the European Union, the European banks and the German and French banks that presented the Greeks and Cypriots with their gambling debts.

The Senator is so right, but I am talking about today. Since the new Greek Government was elected, a high-wire strategy is being played which is risking everything for all of us. We paid the price for the entire European banking system. We never got it back, but that is another day's work. What I am talking about right now is the need to re-stabilise things.

I want to check with the Leader if the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has arranged for the repatriation of Irish tourists and families in Tunisia. I listened to many of them yesterday. They are literally trapped in their hotels. A mother with four children plus a baby cannot leave the hotel. Given what has happened there, how could they risk going out? I understand the United Kingdom has repatriated its citizens using the RAF. These are times when people need their country, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and quick action. Some of this was known before these people left Dublin Airport last Friday and they were not stopped from going. I understand the travel companies are not playing ball quick enough and are forcing these people to stay out their term. That is not a holiday.