Bonfire safety and sectarianism
Senator Norris criticises sectarian rhetoric and calls for proper supervision of bonfires after fires endangered terraced houses, while also supporting debate on higher education funding.
I call Senator David Norris. As I did not want to leave him until last, I am using my discretion to let him speak.
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The Cathaoirleach is very kind and it is appreciated.
I have to laugh at Sinn Féin. Last week it was agonising about pensions paid from Great Britain, while this week it is talking about sectarianism. From a blatantly sectarian organisation, that is quite rich.
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There is a problem about the supervision of bonfires. I do not give a damn about people's election literature being burned. Most of it is rubbish. However, the bonfires were not supervised properly and a row of terraced houses on fire was set on fire as a result. That is much more serious.
I support the calls for a debate on the Cassells report. Universities in Ireland are consistently dropping down the rankings. I think Trinity College Dublin is still in the top 100 in Europe, but there is a huge deficit. I am surprised and delighted to learn that UCD is still in credit, which is astonishing. I think that medical training is a really good investment, despite the fact that 17 doctors left for Australia. I do not know what one can do about this. One cannot very well imprison them here. I remember when an entire class of nurses left Galway. It is shocking that this happens, but I do not know what one can do about it. It is time, however, that we had a really good debate about it. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence.