Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Barrett for his presentation. I do not so much have any questions except to say I agree with a lot of what was in it. A question asked of the previous panel is whether the witnesses think the Government listens to them. One actually sees much of what is in the opening statement translated into Government policy. I was delighted to hear Dr. McQuinn talk about 2008 and 2009. If we had had that rainy day fund then, we could have invested it in social housing. As someone who was on a local authority back then and saw the withdrawal from central government funding and the knock-on effect of that, I believe it is very prudent that Government has a rainy day fund and it is broadened for adverse weather effects. People of my generation and the Chairman's generation always grew up being told to put aside a certain amount of one's wage if possible for a rainy day. This should be carried through in any policy.

I was delighted to hear Professor Barrett talk about gender in the workplace and some of the barriers women face to which he alluded, confidence, childcare and cost being the main ones. We are doing a lot to address that but we could probably go much further. He is right: men will apply for promotion if they reach two out of five criteria. Women like to finish a job before they go on to the next one. That is a given.

Regarding the data sources and the ESB connections, I am looking forward to the CSO figures coming out at the end of the week or next week, I think. Regardless of whether a house was built in part in 2010 and not completed until last year or this year, it is still a new house. People can argue over that whatever way they want; it still will put a properly built and sustainable roof over the head of someone who needs it.

Regarding Rebuilding Ireland, I think people forget where we have come from. I hate going back to this all the time, but it is important to put it in context.

Rebuilding Ireland is a five-year plan, and we always said it would be the middle of year two or three before we start to see that impact. The number of planning permissions being granted and planning applications going through, as well as commencement orders are increasing at a quicker rate than the last year or two, although they are not yet where we need them to be, that is putting some confidence and viability back into the sector. It is going in a positive rather than negative direction. Members in other parties do not want to accept that and, instead, bash us on the ESB connections or other figures. When we drill down into them, progress is evident, and this does not come about on the back of a card; it has come about with proper policy, investment and communications with people who know this field.

I do not know even where to start with health. I spent yesterday and last night in an accident and emergency department with a family member and I have every respect for people who work in the emergency services given the pressure they are under. The Sláintecare report has been completed for a good while but it was a policy document that had to be handed to the Department of Health to produce a financing roadmap on where to invest over the next ten years. It is not something that can happen quickly. Proper policy and planning takes time and doing something in haste sometimes brings poor results. I would rather take time where possible and get the results we want. I am a member of the housing committee, which is currently working on a policy for assisted and independent living for older people because of the projected demographics and because there are not enough options for people. We are feeding into the projected figures for people over 65. People want to stay within their community and even within a kilometre of where they currently live, if possible. We must consider such housing models to free up other houses with a knock-on effect.

There is much in this and I enjoy reading these kinds of documents. I thank the witnesses for the presentation. I was going to ask about higher education as well but they are pressed for time.