Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I imagine other colleagues will want to join me in commending the firefighters who went to the scene of a fire at a block of apartments in Clondalkin yesterday from which several adults and children had to be rescued. It was good news that there were no serious injuries as a result of the fire, but it was a timely reminder of how important the work of firefighters is. I commend the firefighters and the neighbours who, before the fire crews arrived on the scene, helped to evacuate the residents from the apartment block as well. It was a terrifying experience for all involved.

I join my colleagues who called yesterday for a debate on direct provision. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on the matter early in the next session. It is worth our examining the issue in some detail. I am mindful that the number of asylum seekers in direct provision has reduced in recent years, but there are still serious concerns about the living conditions of people, especially families with children in direct provision as well as the plight of unaccompanied minors who have come to Ireland and who are in direct provision. We might have a debate on that.

I warmly welcome the news, following yesterday's Cabinet meeting, that a referendum will be held on lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 years as a result of the recommendation of the Constitutional Convention and on lowering the age of eligibility to be President from 35 to 21 years. There was a lively debate at the Constitutional Convention on the issue of voting age, perhaps more lively than many commentators had expected. People were genuinely persuaded by the arguments heard. I gather the Leader has said that we will have Tom Arnold, chairperson of the Constitutional Convention, in the House in the autumn. That might be another issue on which he could address the House.

I look forward to our debate tomorrow on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, which is due to conclude in the Dáil tonight. I welcome the fact that after 21 years we are facing up to our responsibility as legislators to deal with the issue. I call on the Leader, in the aftermath of the Bill, perhaps in the autumn, to arrange a debate on the separation of church and State, given the rather robust interventions by the bishops, essentially seeking to tell legislators what to do, which, I believe, is not appropriate in a republic.