Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the past hour in Belfast City Hall, Queen Elizabeth II praised those who turn the impossible into the possible. She pointed out that societies are based on trust, respect, justice and interdependence. In turning the impossible into the possible, it is remarkable that one of her visits this morning was to the Crumlin Road Jail.

The Queen was accompanied by the First Minister, who spent some time as an inmate of the jail for opposing the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and Deputy First Minister, who spent some time in the jail for alleged membership of the IRA. The visits by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to Belfast today and Enniskillen two years ago and their generous hosting in April of the visit of President Higgins to the United Kingdom set an example to all of us on reconciling the two traditions on this island. I hope today's visit bodes well for the imminent marching season.
I am concerned about a report by Niall O'Connor published last evening in The Herald , which indicates that of 4,653 units the National Asset Management Agency offered local authorities for housing, only 518 or 11% were transferred. As Senator Hayden and others have pointed out, we have a housing crisis. Such a high rejection rate is not acceptable in such circumstances. This news comes shortly after the House, including the Leader, expressed concern about the slow rate of turnover in tenancies in local authority housing. Houses are sometimes blocked up for months on end. Local authorities must show a greater sense of urgency in this regard, as we have the means to deal with the housing problem.