Ireland is the "most racist country in the world and there is no point pretending otherwise", Fine Gael's Social and Family affairs spokesman told the Dáil. Mr Michael Ring said Irish people who emigrated when they were 18 and were now returning to retire "are probably more racist today than when they left".
He added: "Look at the way we have treated our own Travelling community - it is the greatest national disgrace. We must all share the blame for this because, as elected public representatives, we have not tried to delve into that serious problem."
Speaking during the debate on the Immigration Bill, Mr Ring said that "we are racist in this country, but whether we like it or not, we will have a mixed culture. Every town and village will have to play its part in dealing with racists by taking them on. We have to support immigrants and make them feel wanted, but we must also grant them their pride by allowing them to work and their children to attend school."
Mr Dan Boyle of the Green Party said it was "ironic" that the Minister for Justice was bringing in a Bill to introduce controls which "are already in operation by officials of the State". He was referring to "growing evidence of asylum-seekers being refused entry" at Irish ports.
Methadone waiting-list 'cut'
The Government is "practically up to speed" in coping with waiting-lists for drug addicts to get methadone treatment, according to the Minister of State for Community Affairs, Mr Noel Ahern.
"For a couple of years there was a huge waiting-list," he told Fine Gael's community affairs spokesman, Mr Fergus O'Dowd, who said that only half of the almost 12,500 heroin addicts in Dublin were on methadone treatment. Mr O'Dowd demanded to know what plans the Government had to provide services for the 6,500 people not receiving methadone or any services from the Minister's Department.
Mr Ahern said that "although there has been difficulty in one or two parts of the city, the long waiting-lists to get into treatment have gone".
€165m from dormant accounts
Some €165 million from dormant accounts has been transferred to the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for "disbursement", but only €30 million will be spent in any one year, the Dáil was told.
The Minister of State, Mr Noel Ahern, said it was a "once-off payment" for capital projects or services. An additional 15 per cent had been placed in a reserve account for those who may claim their money at a future date, he added.