Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Frances Fitzgerald in regard to both the items she raised, namely, the callous shooting of a garda in the course of his duty and the plight of Shannon and the entire mid-west region. The second issue will be addressed by another speaker.

What is the status of the proposed designated land (housing development) Bill, which is intended to give powers to planning authorities to act, on a selective basis, to accelerate the development of appropriately zoned land for housing through a "use it or lose it" scheme. The legislation was announced to great fanfare last February by the previous Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in a policy statement entitled "Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities". I presume this document is still Government policy. If that is the case, when will the Bill come before the House?

I concur with Senators O'Toole and Boyle on the plight of the Burmese people. We learned today of the murder of two monks.