Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge and welcome today's announcement. More to the point, I look forward to seeing the detail of what is proposed for the Magdalen laundry site on Seán McDermott Street.

This will be a very significant development locally but also nationally and internationally. It is essential that we get it right in terms of the archive, the site of conscience and the whole area of social housing. That will mean there has to be a collaborative approach and spirit, and a willing ear to listen not least to the local community and, of course, to the entire community of survivors.

In September 2020, I raised the issue of a review of the NEIC with the Taoiseach. Initially he was warm towards the idea but he cooled on it. I want to pitch for it again with him. It is absolutely imperative that this initiative be reviewed and measured. I believe the time is ripe for that to happen. With the outworkings of Covid, the housing crisis and shortfalls in healthcare, particularly in addiction services and supports, and now with people fleeing from Ukraine coming to the north east inner city, the need is more acute than ever for supports, enhanced funding, review and real attention to the community and community development.

I wanted to raise the issue of our drugs task force, which disgracefully has been spancelled by people within the HSE. I have raised the matter with the Taoiseach previously. I will stop talking now because my minute is over.

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