Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Bacik's call for a debate on gender equality. When the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced his new cabinet it was 50% male and 50% female. When he was asked why he had done that, he said, "because it's 2015".There could be no better answer than that and he is right. Moreover, others may soon follow his fine example. I am not familiar with his politics and do not know what else he may do, will do or has promised to do, but that is a good start. Despite the welcome gender quota legislation which started its passage in this House and, of course, has led to some difficulties, although not really that many, there will continue to be a debate required about gender equality and it would be appropriate for Members to have it in this House.

I add my voice in support of the announcement on rents and the difficulties of homelessness. The encouraging of builders to build where houses specifically are needed in Cork and Dublin is welcome, as, of course, is the freeze on rent reviews for four years in order that they do not take place within a single year but over a two-year period, as well as the various other measures. I pay tribute to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, his team and the Government as a whole for persisting in dealing with what is a complex matter.

I also welcome the announcement to be made this afternoon by the Government on the new jobs plan for the next three years, in which 266,000 jobs have been programmed or promised. Moreover, although people stated it would not happen, 120,000 jobs have already been created in the past three years. If the Leader considers that it is at all possible, I seek an opportunity to have a debate on this issue because while it has been successful, this new plan concentrates on regionality. For people like me who live in the north west, it is required urgently that we focus on the regions and that locations in the Dublin-Cork-Galway triangle, if one likes, not be the only places in which jobs can be introduced or encouraged. I acknowledge that Senator Ivana Bacik has referred to the shortage of time, but if there is an opportunity to have a debate on the new plan being launched today, I would welcome having such a debate.