Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sure colleagues will join me in offering best wishes to the two prison officers who were so brutally wounded yesterday during an escape by a prisoner they had accompanied to Tallaght hospital. There has been a good deal of commentary in respect of this particularly heinous attack, which is the subject of an ongoing Garda operation. Yesterday, a number of colleagues raised the issue of crime. The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality is due to begin its hearings on gangland crime at 2.30 p.m. If colleagues have an interest in that matter or in ways in which the Government and legislators can take action, then perhaps they might consider attending.

I welcome the passage through the Seanad last night of the Gender Recognition Bill after lengthy but very constructive Committee Stage and Report Stage debates, to which many colleagues contributed. I wish to place on record the importance of the Government's introducing the Bill in the Seanad. In fact, the Government put forward some significant amendments on foot of the debates which took place here. I refer, in particular, to the amendment which will ensure that the legislation is reviewed two years after its enactment. It is clear that any changes identified during that review will be made. The Bill is progressive and it is long overdue, and we can be pleased that the Seanad had quite an impact on it.

I welcome the announcement by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, in respect of a €300 million housing investment programme which will be jointly supported by the European Investment Bank and the Housing Finance Agency. I am sure Senator Hayden will have more to say on this matter. This is the first ever support provided in respect of housing in Ireland by the European Investment Bank. This is an extremely welcome and major investment which will facilitate the construction of an additional 2,000 social housing units in the next three years.