Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I noted at the weekend proposals to demolish houses on ghost estates. Can that issue be debated and fully appraised in order that is not an instinctive reaction? The estates in question have been the subject of planning permission; there are access roads, pipes for water and sewers and sites have been cleared, while some buildings have had foundations laid and so on. Recent sales of houses on a ghost estate in County Monaghan show there is a market for them. People trade low housing cost against the massive debts some have, unfortunately, incurred which we are trying to alleviate in other deliberations. Commuting costs are declining and there will be a reduction in energy costs because of the agreement with Iraq last weekend and fracking which has changed the energy scene. It might, therefore, be possible not to knock down these estates and ensure these are places where people want to live. The United Kingdom is debating the issue of high speed trains and what is regarded as wasted commuting time and it is proposed to provide Wi-Fi in order that train travelling time can become working time. Perhaps commuting is less of a disutility than debt which is a major disutility. People might trade houses to live further away on so-called ghost estates and this issue should be evaluated fully.

I congratulate Roddy Doyle on winning the novel of the year award and the other authors, John Banville and Michael Harding. At the ceremony former US President Clinton joined the House in more tributes to Seamus Heaney. He paid the ultimate tribute to him when he named his dog Seamus, as in man's best friend. We had tributes to Mr. Heaney in the House and this was a continuation of the nation's tribute to our great Nobel prize winner.