John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I agree with my colleague because it is very important to welcome the American President to our shores. It reinforces the view that we are highly regarded, disproportionate to our size, in the American establishment, by both the Democratic and Republican parties. The President is here to support the Good Friday Agreement, to which we have all signed up wholeheartedly. In the light of the fact that the war in Iraq is nearing its end, we should now continue our efforts and use our influence to ensure peace is won and that there is humanitarian and reconstruction aid similar to that given to Europe at the end of the Second World War.

Senator Tuffy spoke about the price of housing. I suggest that we have a debate on the matter in the light of the fact that there are large land banks around Dublin city that have not been used. It is surely time to say, "Use them or lose them." If there is planning permission for these land banks, they should be either used or lost.