Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I again very much welcome the living city initiative. I may have asked the Leader this already. It might be useful in due course when we have some more information about these special regeneration areas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Kilkenny and we have the maps to have a debate if Members were interested. It is a tremendous initiative for owner-occupiers of properties originally built for use as residences prior to 1915. Many of these are well worth preserving and enhancing and for that reason alone it is welcome. There is also a retail-commercial element, which I would like to see spelt out more. I note the scheme will last for five years. I would like to see the scheme extended to many other towns and cities if possible, but those details can wait for a debate if the Leader thinks well of it and if there is enough demand for it.

I agree somewhat with Senator Bacik in regard to the proposed Seanad ballot paper - perhaps not the ballot paper. I was amused that we might have to download the ballot paper. I think they could get into trouble on that one, but enough of that. In regard to the Bill that the three wise men - it is a committee of more than the three wise men - have proposed for publication, without discussing the Bill, because I presume the Bill will need to be sponsored by the Government, I would like a discussion which might be a follow-on from yesterday, as Senator Bacik suggested, because we were curtailed somewhat on time.We might want to speak more on that subject. I did not have the time to mention a few items that I wanted to include. The former Senators' objective is worthwhile. The report is generally good but I see two huge snags in what it proposes. They could be spelled out further together with other snags other Members may have with a view to directing the measure if we were to have a discussion on the proposed Bill without dealing formally with it. I recommend that to the Leader. Also, a debate in due course in the autumn on the proposed commemorations would be worthwhile.