Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Yes, that is completely as I expected. I understand and accept completely that as legislators, we do not, nor should we, have a role over planning but we do have leadership roles. We do have voice. We are elected to represent the people of our constituencies and to have a say about what is common sense, what is basic humanity and what is just nonsensical. I found it unfathomable when I walked into that room and saw the clinicians and the babies in the incubators. I did not get a chance to meet their parents that day but I can only imagine when they walk into that room and see the little cots that are separated less than a metre from each other, which is absolutely no way in accordance with medical best practice. I cannot understand how any body designed to protect our heritage, which it does a good job at, could not simply look and see how that pales into irrelevance when it comes to the future, which is actually the children in these incubators. I do not want anybody to interfere with a planning process. That is not what we are after here. However, we do want to find a way. Maybe that is through legislating for critical infrastructure, which the Rotunda expansion absolutely is. That could be done fast.

The Government will get support across the Chamber as it applies or speaks with the authority of the offices of the Minister for housing, the Minister for Health or the Cabinet. I imagine they will have the full support of the rest of us across the Opposition. Let us call this what it is: a nonsense objection to critical infrastructure that genuinely risks costing lives. We cannot separate ourselves from that as leaders in our communities, as a Cabinet and as people who have been asked to act on behalf of the people of Ireland.

See this speech in context