James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come into the House at the earliest opportunity to discuss the serious issue of homelessness and the inadequate facilities provided for homeless people. Pre-budget submissions have been made by several concerned bodies, such as Focus Ireland and Threshold. It is important that the Government gets its act in order. It is a blight on this Government to see the number of people sleeping in doorways within 200 meters of the Houses of Parliament.