John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank those from all parties who contributed to what has been a discussion, not a debate. Everybody had constructive things to say. We all come into public service for different reasons. I look at Dublin as a Dubliner and, like many of my colleagues, I served as a local authority member for a number of years. I see the efficacy of the work of the four Dublin local authorities. However, one would really have to have no sight not to see the deficits and the challenges that face Dublin as a region.

This is not about Dublin competing with the rest of the country but about situating it in the context of other city regions. The Minister said that Dublin is the only English-language city in a post-Brexit scenario and that there is a market out there for English-language international education. We are behind the curve on this. This is not a political point. We could be the centre of English-language education, a market of billions, but we developed a reputation for rogue colleges in the past four or five years.

I have a lot of time for Deputy Eamon Ryan going back over a long period but I feel that, like a traditional politician, he believes there is a bit of competition here. However, I only want what he and the Minister want and I do not care how it happens. It is a privilege to have been able to introduce this plebiscite Bill. I think Dubliners ought to be able to have a say and I take the Minister at his word and accept his sincerity on the timeline. I do not think the amendment affects the timeline and if he can give a commitment that he can deliver it within that timeline, then we will be on schedule for delivering a plebiscite around the same time.

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