Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A total of €7.5 million has been provided to local authorities for inspection purposes over the four years to the end of 2017. In addition, the Government has increased the provision for inspections with €2.5 million in funding to be provided in 2018. The Minister, Deputy Murphy, intends to further increase the annual allowance up to 2021 and €10 million will be invested. This will allow for inspection rates to increase to 25% annually, which means there will be inspections of a property every four years . Each house or apartment will be inspected every four years. The issue of housing and homelessness is one we all want to see addressed as a matter of priority. It does not give any of us any solace to come in here to raise these kind of matters about citizens.Senator Gavan made reference to the young woman in Limerick. It is unacceptable, whether the lady is living in Cork, Galway, Limerick or wherever, that she is forced to be in the situation she is in. None of us condones or accepts that situation.

I would be very happy to accept Senator Craughwell's amendment to the Order of Business and I commend him for the Bill that he is bringing forward. It is an important piece of legislation that will give recognition to the people who serve our country, in particular those who have died in defence of our nation, and in other armies as well. It is an important Bill and I welcome the fact that he is bringing it to the House. I will accept the amendment.

Can I join with Senators Craughwell, Norris, Swanick,Burke and Coghlan in congratulating Senator Feighan on organising the visit to Westminster yesterday. The issue of Brexit is of course one that is of gargantuan importance to us as a nation, and it is through dialogue and engagement through parliamentarians that we can bring our voice to the table. I know that Members of this House have been very involved with the Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, which produced a very fine report.

Equally I commend Senator Swanick for raising today the memory of the late Senator Gordon Wilson and his daughter. One of the key phrases that he used this morning was "reconciliation". It is by building bridges, as Mary McAleese in her Presidency tried to achieve, that we can bring lasting and secure peace to our island. That is what we all want to see achieved, so that both sides of the political divide can live together in mutual respect and co-operation. I commend the Taoiseach for wearing the poppy yesterday. I note what Senator Norris said about the issue of war, but it is important that the symbolism that we saw yesterday is transferred across all divides. I know that many Members of the House are playing very key roles in that. I would be happy to speak to Senator Gavan, who I think has just left, on the issue he raised yesterday with me as well.

In response to Senator Kelleher, I would be happy to have the Minister for Justice and Equality come to the House. Ireland is committed to adhering to the numbers of refugees that we have agreed to accept. The Senator is right in saying that it is the worst global refugee crisis in modern times. There is Private Members' business tonight in regard to the International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017, and the Minister will be here. We will be happy to have the Minister come back again in that regard.

Senator Humphreys raised the issue of the rail strike. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, is not in North Korea. The Minister was on the public airwaves-----