Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Senator said that Councillor Farrelly was bringing this forward. I just feel it sounds sensible.

Senator Leyden referred to the sacrifice made by Garda Brian Kelleher and fireman Michael Liston. They were in the front line of duty in the service of the State and it is therefore right that their deaths be raised and that we praise them in the House. The Senator also referred to the joint local policing committees, which comprise Oireachtas Members and the members of the police force. It would be good to have a review and report on these.

Senator Ulick Burke referred to the credibility of planning. We would have thought An Bord Pleanála was the bastion of impartiality but the Senator questioned this and asked that the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government speak on the matter in the House.

Senator Ó Murchú mentioned victims' rights and recounted a very poignant story concerning the shock of a woman who met her husband's murderer on the street in a small town. Senator Quinn congratulated the passport office in Molesworth Street on how proficient it has become in the issuing of passports. He referred to the importation of produce that could be produced here. Some consumers deliberately do not purchase vegetables if they are from Israel, for example, because of the carbon footprint involved or the amount of fuel used in importing them to Ireland. This is a fair point but the climate in Ireland does not allow many of the products in question to be planted and reaped here. The answer is in our own hands in that we can purchase what we want if the goods are made available in a carbon-friendly or carbon-neutral way.

Senator Maurice Hayes expressed the view that the immediate families of victims should be informed of the release of the perpetrators. It would be a better thing to do because of the incitement we see in neighbourhoods when such people move into them, sometimes rightly so. It would also bring better justice to those concerned.

Senator Coghlan called for a debate on the impartiality of An Bord Pleanála. Senator Fitzgerald raised the prospect of a convicted abuser moving next door to one of his victims. Imagine waking up to that. The Senator also sought a debate on affordable housing. We will endeavour to have a debate on that issue because, as part of our constituency work, we have all dealt with people who are desperate for housing. They come to us with their hearts full of hope that they can acquire affordable houses, only to be disappointed because the imponderables that surround the matter are too many.