David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin supports Senator Bacik's motion on Dr. Nashed, which it is hoped can be discussed in the House. However, even if it is not discussed, Sinn Féin will support the motion if put before the House.

Also, I support the call of previous speakers for the Minister with responsibility for housing to come into the House to debate planning and development regulations in this State, in respect of which one of the issues at play is enforcement. There is a wealth of planning regulations in this State. Many Members of the House who were previously councillors will have experience of the planning process in terms of development plans and will understand that there are in place robust regulations and that part of the problem is enforcement. This needs to be factored into any discussion we may have with the Minister.

Senator Harte spoke about builders taking responsibility. It is also important that the Government takes responsibility. I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on a big issue facing this country over the next number of weeks, namely, the handover of €700 million to a single unguaranteed bondholder as part of Anglo Irish Bank bonds to be paid back over the next number of years. The sum of €700 million will be paid on 2 November and €1.2 billion will be paid in January. This is at a time when Members of this House are raising issues such as cuts to special needs, the closing of hospital wards, cuts in the education sector and across the board and in respect of social welfare payments which will affect families. We are facing into a budget which, depending on which Minister one believes, will contain cuts ranging from €3.6 billion to €4 billion. This is happening at a time when this Government is to pay €700 million to one unguaranteed bondholder despite that we are not compelled, legally or morally, to do so.

I call on the Leader to provide this House with an opportunity to discuss the implications of these type of decisions by this Government on behalf of the taxpayers.