Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I am pleased the Fianna Fáil Party is in agreement with the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. There are a lot of very important provisions in it and some of them have an overhang from the last Government. It is important they are enacted. I am sure we will discuss that later.

I would like the Deputy Leader to consider the census data which will be released today. It is estimated that the population will increase to 4.5 million, which is significant. It will have far reaching implications for future planning in the country. I congratulate the CSO on processing the data in such a short time. I know there is more to come in the next 12 months. It will make for very interesting reading, not just for Dáil constituencies which are not relevant to this House but to the other House, but also to settlements and how we move forward. It is an important document will be produced today which will have far-reaching implications for future investment in infrastructure and how the country moves forward. The figures will feed into the Electoral (Amendment) Bill which the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government published today.