Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the eight Members for their contributions to the Order of Business.

As Senator Norris said, it is important that we commemorate the crew and passengers of RMS Leinster. On this day 100 years ago, 564 members of the ship's crew, civilian passengers, postal sorters and military medical personnel lost their lives in the worst maritime disaster in the Irish Sea. It is important, as Senator Norris said, the House remembers those who died. This morning in Dún Laoghaire, there was an official commemoration of the event.

Equally this morning we remember, as Senator Murnane O'Connor said, Emma Mhic Mhathúna. Yesterday, Members paused for a minute's silence to remember Emma Mhic Mhathúna and the other women who lost their lives in similar circumstances. It is a tragedy and should not have happened. There will be no obfuscation on the Government's part in terms of the implementation of the Scally report's recommendations. Today, we remember those who lost their lives on board RMS Leinster, as well as Emma Mhic Mhathúna as she is being laid to her eternal reward.

I join with Senator Leyden in welcoming former Deputy, Joe Callanan, to the House and thank him for his service. Senator Leyden made an interesting contribution to the Order of Business. Funding for housing is not the issue, it is supply. Supply must be ratcheted up. It is important we have a combined approach to the housing issue. Senator Leyden referred to his party's contribution to the budget. I acknowledge the role played by Fianna Fáil Members in the formation of the budget. That is what confidence and supply is. Having said that, what we must put in place now must be sustainable. That is why in yesterday's budget, the Government committed €2.4 billion to building social and affordable housing, the most significant amount of money invested in housing by any Government in a single year. It will allow us to put in place a model of delivery where men, women, children, husbands, wives and partners can live and have a roof over their heads.

Senator Conway-Walsh gave us the Sinn Féin briefing document on Fianna Fáil. She might share that rebuttal with us. We would love to have it. It was an impressive list she read out.