Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

The Minister is saying that the social dividend in the Bill is the elimination of ransom strips and the provision of better planning, which I respectfully suggest is something that could be achieved through existing planning laws and through changes in planning laws if necessary. However, there is nothing in the Bill to redress the imbalance in terms of the lack of youth facilities and the lack of funding for youth facilities.

The social dividend that the Green Party in particular was claiming from this Bill has not been achieved. We pressed our amendment yesterday and therefore we cannot press it again today but we know Senator Mullen is a man of principle and commitment and that he will press his amendment, on which we will support him.