Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Paschal Mooney has said his salary is paid by the ratepayers. He and his senior officials in the planning department of Dublin City Council should strongly consider their positions. This is a disaster for the city. We have got to make sure we get it right from hereon. However, I believe nothing can be done at this stage. One step would be to look at the legislation my colleague, Deputy Timmy Dooley in the other House, published in respect of amending the process in this regard, not specifically relating to these concerts as unfortunately that decision is made. I am disgusted with Dublin City Council manager and his officials who have made such an atrocious decision for Dublin and the entire country.

I ask the Leader for a debate early in the next session with the new Minister for Foreign Affairs. I understand the reshuffle will take place later today or tomorrow. I wish Senator Ivana Bacik all the best. It is fair to mention this in dispatches.

In regard to the situation in Israel and Palestine, all of us condemn the murders of the three Israeli teenagers a couple of weeks ago and the subsequent burning to death of a 15 year old Palestinian child. Now the Israeli defence forces are inflicting collective punishment on the people in Gaza for the actions in which Hamas has been involved and for which I condemn Hamas. There is an amassing of troops at the border at Gaza. Some 12 people were killed in air strikes the day before yesterday and the unrest is being allowed escalate. The Middle East is in a volatile state. We have always had a track record in Ireland of being honest brokers in this regard. When the Palestinian people are being punished again for the actions of Hamas terrorists we should tell the Israeli Government we do not agree with that as it is not the way a civilised state should perform. I ask the Leader, when the new Minister for Foreign Affairs is in place, to raise those concerns with him or her.

The pyrite resolution board is in place for a number of months. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, said he would report back to the House and I understand a quarterly report is being issued. I ask the Leader, in September, to invite the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, or the new Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come in to report on the progress with the pyrite remediation scheme and the remediation of houses. I am in regular contact with those concerned. As with any scheme that is set up there are problems but this Chamber can be used to address those issues.