Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

Along with other colleagues I congratulate Senator Ó Clochartaigh and his wife, Mali, on the birth of Ríain. As I did not get the opportunity to do so publicly, I also want to congratulate Senator Cullinane on his recent arrival.

Last week, we had a very good debate on the unfinished housing estates which are a blight on the countryside throughout the length and breadth of the Twenty-six Counties. During that debate a number of issues were raised by myself and other colleagues, including a question on the number of those estates that are owned and run by the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. The answer was 28, and I and a number of colleagues urged the Minister to make contact with NAMA to ensure it provided funding to secure those estates on a health and safety basis.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Willie Penrose, who kept his word and within a few days ensured that NAMA provided over €3 million to clean up the mess in those 28 estates and secure them for the families and their children living in them. The Minister of State, Deputy Penrose, took this House seriously and ensured that the views of the elected representatives in this House were heard.