Two weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, in Waterville when I was able to thank him for the work he did with the Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Deputy Kehoe, in securing the Jadotville medal. This weekend I learned to my disgust the treatment by the Department of Defence of the Jadotville heroes who are to be awarded their medal on 2 December. They are to be denied a proper military service or military parade.

A daughter of one of the Jadotville heroes wrote to me today. She writes of her father as follows:

[My father] a man who believed in justice and equality. He knew what it was like to feel segregated long before the Congo. He knew what injustice was and how it felt to be treated unfairly by some locals and outsiders! In fact, he knew this from a very young age, even though he was born on Irish soil he could have joined the British Army, but instead, decided to join the Irish Army. But what a mistake! As once again he was segregated, treated like dirt and left to die, not by the people of the Congo ... No! ... but by his own! When he returned home he was called a coward again by ... his own comrades, Government and the Defence Force. He also died in the care of the Defence Forces and left a young wife and five children, one of which never got to know him! When his friend [...] asked what happened to [and she names her father], [they were told] "keep your mouth shut or your career will be on the line!" I wonder why????? I don't need the word bravery, honour or hero written on a piece of paper or engraved on a plaque to tell me who or what this great man was! Because I already [know]. He was the man that held me when I was sick as a child, he was the man that sat and held me in his big strong arms and told me I'd be alright! He was the man who gave me little surprises on pay day. He, in the blink of an eye was the man that was there no more and no one cared then or now!

I beg the Leader to go to the Taoiseach today and ask him to reverse the awful decision by the Department of Defence. It is wrong in every way. Those heroes are entitled to have their comrades stand by them when they receive a medal that is 56 years overdue. I served with those men and never knew they were in Jadotville. I knew nothing about it because it was hidden. There is no disgrace in what they did. They are heroes. They deserve to be given their medal in front of their former colleagues and with a full military parade.

I echo what Senator Ray Butler spoke about, namely, rates, and the fact that business is only recovering now from those hard years of recession. Having survived that, to be faced now with what looks to be an increase in rates is very worrying for people, especially in towns such as Balbriggan and Rush which have struggled through the recession but are coming out of it.

The reason I rise here today is to commend Fingal County Council on good news. The council yesterday voted to allow the CEO of the council, Paul Reid, to enter into negotiations with the European Investment Bank to seek up to €70 million, which could be matched by Government funds. I will strongly support that and I will lobby the Government to make sure that happens.

I congratulate the council because I believe it is the first mover on this issue. The European Investment Bank exists to offer affordable loans to allow infrastructure to be developed. In an area such as Fingal, the obvious part of Dublin that will allow for the expansion of the population and badly needed housing, it seems opportune to invest in advance in the infrastructure people need. For once in our history we will have the infrastructure in place before the housing is built and families arrive. This includes important infrastructure such as the greenway, which is a no-brainer in terms of the jobs created and tourism generated, an issue about which I have spoken in the House before. I refer also to connectivity, including roads, particularly near Dublin Airport where planning permission was recently refused for five tower blocks for offices only on the grounds that there was inferior and insufficient road connectivity. The lands have been zoned. We need to develop these things.

There is a possibility to be a leader in other areas. A former major waste disposal area for Dublin city, Balleally dump, had a huge amount of work done on it. It now has the potential to be a wonderful community park, with fabulous views from the top of the man-made mountain. There are many other areas in which there could be investment to improve the lives and well-being of the locals. Swimming pools, for example, could be constructed. Fingal, Swords and Balbriggan should seriously consider developing swimming pools for their populations.

I really believe it is important to acknowledge this opportunity and that we acknowledge Fingal County Council for its forward thinking. I wish it well in its negotiations with the European Investment Bank and, subsequently, the Government. I hope there will be a successful outcome some time in December and that we will be able to look forward to investing in projects and infrastructure, including parks, for our ever-increasing population and the youngest in the country. In other parts of Europe the European Investment Bank has also invested in hospitals.