Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that the Dáil voted through the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018 last night and that it will be coming to the House this afternoon. At the forefront of my mind in debating the Bill is the responsibility we have to the citizens that voted overwhelmingly in the referendum that the legislation should go through and that we should deal with it in a timely manner so as to ensure women can get the healthcare to which they are rightly entitled from January on. I would have liked the Bill to have come here much sooner and I will be aiming to ensure we can provide that health service to women from 1 January.

On numerous occasions I have raised the development of 3,500 units in Poolbeg west. We are now coming up against a time restraint. Back in September, An Bord Pleanála said it needed additional information from Dublin City Council by 28 January 2019. Dublin City Council provided the information to An Bord Pleanála on 27 November, nearly two months ahead of schedule. The closing date for submissions on the Poolbeg west development is 2 January. This is a time-sensitive issue. We have always argued in this House that the housing crisis can only be dealt with on a supply basis. I call on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to come to the House because if the matter is not addressed urgently by him, those who are on the housing list and who so badly need housing will lose 550 units. That is unacceptable. I have raised the matter for three years and very little action has been taken. I give some praise to the former Minister, Deputy Coveney, who was proactive in regard to the development. He visited the site on many occasions and was part of the agreement on the financial undertaking for the additional 550 units. However, nothing has happened since.