Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It relates to the cervical cancer saga.

I also want to raise the issue of the National Economic and Social Council's report on urban land planning. This is a particularly important document, and it is a pity it comes so late and did not feed into the Rebuilding Ireland documentation. People may have heard about it on "Morning Ireland" this morning. It talks about the need to use and retain our State lands, rather than pursuing the policy we have had of selling them. I think of the RTÉ lands at Montrose in Donnybrook. None of that land was set aside for social and affordable housing. What a disappointment. This report calls for the retention of State lands. I think it is an important report. We should read it and we should consider raising it again.

Finally, I just want to say a few words about Tom Murphy. I did not speak here yesterday morning. I read many of the tributes to him today. One cannot help but remember his moving passages, words and plays about emigration and displacement. There was emigration and displacement then, but we still have displacement in our country today. It is linked to access to social and affordable housing. People wish to remain and live in their communities, particularly rural communities. We should be mindful and look back on some of those words, because they are as relevant today as they were then. I want to pay tribute to him and to his family.