Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

We are often criticised for concentrating on the here and now; therefore, I welcome the report published today by Engineers Ireland on how Ireland will change in the next 20 years. It considers population growth and predicts the island's population will double from 4 million to 8 million, 4 million of whom will be living along the east coast between Dublin and Belfast. It also considers what we will need to cater for a population of that size such as a new tidal barrier, extensions to the M1, the speeding up of services on the Dublin to Belfast rail line and water supplies. It is an excellent report which we could all do with reading. In the past 15 years of the Celtic tiger we wasted the boom years. We must learn the lessons, as we cannot repeat our mistakes. I, therefore, ask for a debate on the report as soon as possible.

We talked in the past few weeks about having a debate on the funding of Irish Diaspora groups in the United Kingdom and the United States. Bearing in mind that St. Patrick's Day is in the week after next, is it possible to have a debate on the issue next week?