Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)

I echo what other speakers have said in wishing the Cathaoirleach well as he takes up his role as Chair of this committee. He is very experienced and has valuable previous experience with the public accounts committee and the finance committee, but also as a Minister of State, which is invaluable. The work of this committee is important in cutting across Government policies and Departments in order to drive on and deliver the infrastructure we need.

If possible, I would like the committee to hear from the Minister for housing, particularly in respect of the strategic housing activation office, how it will work and who will staff it and, eventually, to hear from whoever will head up that office. It is important in focusing on the infrastructure needed to be able to deliver housing, particularly on brownfield sites.

I also would welcome the opportunity for the committee to look at the HSE capital plan in particular, and to get the HSE in to discuss the delivery of critical health infrastructure throughout the country. The work we do will be important in joining dots, breaking down silos and opening up lines of communication. As the previous speakers, particularly Senator Byrne, said, if one looks at the example of what they are doing in the UK, critical infrastructure is something that we, as a country, must get an awful lot better at delivering.