May I raise a question which could be equally valid under section 1 or section 2?
Appropriation Bill, 1997 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages.
Question proposed: "That section 1 stand part of the Bill."
The Senator may raise it now.
We touched on this point on the Order of Business today. The Minister mentioned Croke Park which is relevant to section 2 in regard to the budget. One of the aspects of the budget, as the Minister said, that got more headlines than might have been expected was the £20 million provided for Croke Park. As a stand alone item one could expect comment from other sporting organisations as to why they did not get a look in. They would not expect the same amount and I will not go into the details of why, but there was quite a lot of criticism from other organisations, like national sporting bodies, about equitable distribution of the cake and so on.
I recognise, and in recent years I have come to recognise more particularly, the importance of the GAA to Irish culture and the whole sporting culture in Ireland. I recognise the job it does do with young people on the ground in providing leisure time activities and the need for involvement to deal with social problems in today's age. In recent years I have understood that at a much greater level than I did, maybe because I was born and reared in Dublin and did not have any particular involvement with the GAA myself, even though members of my family before me certainly have had. Living in Wexford one could not but appreciate the contribution of the GAA to sporting culture and to Irish culture in our country. I do not agree with recent commentators who still consider the GAA, and let us call a spade a spade, a bigoted and sectarian organisation, but the fact that £20 million was provided in the budget got the headlines and was highlighted has brought that school of dancing or school of opinion to the fore again in relation to the GAA. We can defend it. Twenty million pounds was an awful lot of money when we look at what we raised on the Order of Business here today, when there are still people without a roof over their heads. Twenty million pounds is still an awful lot of money where there still is not sufficient residential spaces for our severe mentally handicapped adults and children and the severely physically handicapped who cannot have an independent living. It is not as a stand alone item that we need to debate it, we would be at fault this morning if we did not mention the enormous criticism around the country from GAA supporters themselves in different branches and counties. It is the juxtaposition of the pregnant woman on our streets today that we are hearing about who had nowhere to lay her head and the ten and 12 year olds who are now homeless for whatever reason. We are not going to stand in judgment today or go into the reasons why they are homeless, but they are. Given what the GAA got and recognising the wonderful contribution it has made, I plead with it to be more all-embracing and to welcome every creed and state who want to enjoy our Irish culture. It could go that extra mile in being more embracing, but it has come an enormous road in recent years in terms of sophistication and opening the doors to all who want to participate. It has become a sophisticated sporting society and is doing a wonderful job.
Having said that, that provision of £20 million is very hard to defend when we cannot provide beds for the homeless. In the Estimates we looked for money for the homeless and section 2 relates to the provision in the budget of £20 million for the GAA. I raise that point here under this section, but it could be equally valid under section 2.
I would like the Minister to state how this Government can give £20 million, albeit over three years, to that excellent organisation, the GAA, and at the same time there is no specific provision for extra moneys for the voluntary organisations — I am concluding on this before they get too agitated — that provide shelter for the homeless, even if the State through the Department of the Environment and Local Government or the Department of Health and Children — this problem straddles several Departments — cannot provide sufficient moneys for respite care, residential beds or shelter for our homeless. That caused scandal in our country and continues to cause scandal and brings unworthy criticism on the GAA, but it is very hard to defend, even by those of us who do appreciate what that organisation does. That allocation was overly generous given the scarce resources.
Acting Chairman
Is section 1 agreed?
Do I get a response from the Minister?
I have concluded.
Acting Chairman
The Minister does not want to.
I mean I am not too sure about the order.
The Minister of State can respond.
Acting Chairman
He does not want to.
He does not have to, but he does not want to. I want to make that clear on the record, that he is not responding but he can respond.
Acting Chairman
He does not want to.
There is a difference.
I will put it this way: I would be happy to debate this issue at the right time with the Senator. In fairness to the Senators who were here earlier who spoke about other commitments which we all have, I am one of those people and I must take an Adjournment matter too. If the Senator wants to make a debate of this at any time, I will.
No. I just wanted a response. A Government response is warranted on Committee Stage.
Acting Chairman
Senator Doyle, he does not have to.
I know he does not have to.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 2 and 3 agreed to.
Schedule agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without recommendation, received for final consideration and ordered to be returned to the Dáil.