Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

The Cathaoirleach mentioned there is a lot of map reading going on this morning. I commend the Constituency Commission on its work but we cannot forget that it leads to a reduction in representation. I welcome the reunification of Swords and the correction of a number of anomalies in the system. Later, we will debate the Gaeltacht Bill, which represents another diminution of democracy with the removal of the rights of people in Gaeltacht areas to elect their representatives to Údarás na Gaeltachta. My party will oppose it at every Stage.

I raised the issue of the pyrite report two weeks ago and the Leader gave me a response. The report was due at the end of March, then the end of May and has still not been published today, the longest day of the year, 21 June. As I mentioned on numerous occasions, over 70,000 houses on the east coast are potentially affected by this scourge. I have visited houses that are unsafe for people to live in. People have no recourse to insurance companies and there is no action from the Government. I ask the Leader for a broad debate on the environment portfolio with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. Such a debate could encompass this point. I seek a commitment that the report will be made public before the summer recess. People cannot wait any longer. The Statute of Limitations is six years. The more there are delays with action on the pyrite issue, the more thousands of people will become statute-barred and will be unable to take cases and legal challenges. The average cost of remediating a standard house is in the region of €30,000. Action is urgently needed. I call on the Leader to inquire of the Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government and to seek a commitment that this report will be published well in advance of the recess, due on 19 July. It is too important for feet-dragging.

I also call for a debate on policing. I have stated on the record of the House that the Government has received a report from its consultants, PricewaterhouseCoopers. The report proposes the closure or downgrading of more than 400 Garda stations. People are only finding out on a drip-drip basis which stations are to be closed or restricted. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has stated he will introduce another list. If anything, the job of the Government is to safeguard its citizens. The reduction in the number of Garda stations throughout the country is not something we support. We need a broad debate in the House with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the Government's plans for policing in rural and urban areas. I realise we have a busy schedule between now and the recess but I call on the Leader to try, if possible, to ask about the Government's plans. Will the Government continue to announce these closures on a staged basis, and announce the closure of 40 stations this month, 40 the next month and a further 40 the following month, or will it produce a full list and let people have advance knowledge of what is taking place, that is to say, that the Government is proceeding with the closure and downgrading of more than 400 Garda stations? I call on the Leader to arrange, at the earliest possible opportunity, for the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to come to the House for a broad debate on the issue.