Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise three issues. We had a wonderful debate yesterday evening on homelessness. As a result of my former colleagues, the teachers of this country, being forced to take to the streets on a one-day strike, the Government has saved €5 million in salary payments. My colleagues feel well justified in their strike action but they would be happy to see the money saved diverted to the homeless. Will the Leader convey this to the Taoiseach and relevant Ministers? There is no reason the money saved by the Exchequer as a result of the strike should not be given over. A person could buy a block or two of apartments off NAMA for that amount and house quite a number of people.

The issue of rent controls came up during the debate and I am not convinced by the Minister's reply. He said a committee would examine this issue. By the time the committee has finished, the Government will have fallen and another Government will have been elected, even if the election takes place in 2016.

I do not wish to draw attention to a Member of this or the Lower House but privilege should not be taken lightly and should not be used by anybody. I have witnessed privilege being used twice since I was elected, once in this House and once in the Lower House. Perhaps privilege has been used much more. I have also witnessed it as a citizen. It is wrong to use privilege in a frivolous way. If we are to use it, it must be in exceptional circumstances. Will the Leader schedule a debate on this? The function of the Seanad in this regard should be similar to that of an overseeing parent or a patriarchal or matriarchal figure. Perhaps something would come out of it. I appreciate the deputy leader of Sinn Féin is in the newspapers today but I do not refer to her specifically. I ask that a debate takes place on privilege.