Asking that a debate be held early in the next session on the crisis in Palestine, Terry Leyden (FF) said a wall of shame was being built there by CRH.
As someone who had led a delegation of parliamentarians to Palestine, he hoped a campaign could be arranged to request shareholders of "that discredited company" to withdraw their support from an enterprise that was building such an edifice around Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
"How could they do it? It's a travesty. I am ashamed that a company from this country would supply cement and build a wall 30 foot high around the city of Bethlehem and I am asking shareholders to withdraw their support from this discredited company."
Brian Hayes, Fine Gael leader in the House: "They survived more than cement down the years."
John Paul Phelan (FG), who was also a member of the delegation, said the visit had been a real eye-opening experience for him. The situation seemed to be getting much worse for Palestinians.
... Feargal Quinn (Ind) described as inspirational the address given to the National Forum on Europe in Dublin last Thursday by EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso who, he said, had presented a vision of Europe for the future. He still faced challenges because he had not managed to get the economy right.
Yesterday's edition of the New York Times had said that the only question was whether Germany and France would face reality: "Either they become Ireland or they become museums."
Mr Quinn said it was a very interesting article and clearly identified that the way of the future was the way Ireland was going and had gone. Nevertheless, advised Mr Quinn, it was important that we kept our eye on the challenges facing us here.
... ...
Michael Finucane (FG) strongly criticised the continuing inclusion of a public service obligation in ESB customers' bills. It concerned him that this charge was being levied at a time when the input from peat was only 5 per cent of all the fuels used.
The Energy Regulator had said it was anti-competitive.
"If it's anti-competitive, the Minister with a stroke of a pen should decide that his public service obligation should be deleted from the bills, and the ordinary consumer should no longer have to pay it".
... ...
Mary O'Rourke noted that one of the benefits of overseas fact-finding trips was the collegiality that developed between people of different parties.
She said she had been in Washington recently. The Washington Post had stated that such trips enabled political opponents to talk to each other and to share ideas.
Brian Hayes: "The leader tried to bring Deputy Parlon, I think."
Ms O'Rourke: "I will not be going abroad with Deputy Parlon."
John Dardis (PD): "It will be a trip to Athlone."
Ms O'Rourke: "You better not call Athlone Parlon country."