Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 15 Members of the House who made contributions to the Order of Business.

Senator Swanick and others raised the issue of air pollution and the related public health concerns. It is a huge issue with which we have to grapple, as Senator Swanick quite rightly said. Since the implementation of the smoky coal ban in Dublin and other major urban areas, lives have been saved. We must continue to grapple with this in order to ensure this practice ends, as the Asthma Society of Ireland has done. The Taoiseach and I have both noted there is a potential legal challenge involved, but I commend the Senator on the work he is doing in highlighting this and advocating for better air quality on the basis of public health. I also commend Sarah O'Connor of the Asthma Society of Ireland. World Lung Day was held recently and we learned that 4.2 million deaths occur worldwide from air pollution every year. It is important that we continue to promulgate and promote an alternative.

Senator Swanick also referred to Brexit, as did Senator McDowell. Much is being said, written and speculated about Brexit. We have not yet reached the end of the Brexit process, although I hope it will come soon. As I have said previously, and as Senator McDowell noted in his comments this morning, there is no good outcome from Brexit. Brexit is bad, full stop. There are no winners in Brexit. The Government has represented the people and tried to ensure that the island of Ireland is represented.

Senator Swanick and others mentioned the flu vaccination. Members and staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas have an opportunity to avail of the flu vaccine today, and I hope people will do so. As part of the winter readiness campaign, people should seek an alternative to visiting GP practices, and we should all support flu vaccinations.

Senator McDowell raised the issue of the Land Development Agency, as Senator Boyhan has done previously. As I have said in the House, the legislation in question is on the Government's priority list to be published this term. The Land Development Agency is up and running, as Senators know, and is working on eight sites with seven more in the pipeline. John Moran has been appointed as chairman of the interim board. The Land Development Agency's focus in recent months has been on delivering on those eight sites. It has already engaged in advanced preliminary feasibility work on all eight sites which have a capacity to deliver 3,000 homes. Having completed the feasibility aspect, the professional teams now must go ahead and apply for planning permission. The sites in Skerries in County Dublin, the former St. Kevin's Hospital by the Lee Road in Cork city, and the former Devoy Barracks in Naas can provide 250, 200 and 200 homes, respectively. In addition, the agency is also looking at other areas around Dublin. I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss this. The Bill is one part of addressing this issue but work is continuing. As Senators McDowell, Mullen, Humphreys and others stated, we must examine different models for the delivery of houses. That could be the Berlin model or what is being worked on and achieved in Vienna, which Senator Boyhan and I recently visited with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe - Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE PA. I had a good engagement on housing when I was there. Whatever model we look at, however, it must be able to deliver a variety of houses. Senator McDowell has pointed out that we are spending an inordinate amount of money on HAP and rent allowance that could be used in the acquisition and development of housing. We should have that debate and I would be happy to facilitate it.

Senator Conway-Walsh referred to CervicalCheck and the apology made by the Taoiseach yesterday on behalf of the Irish nation. It was an important day and not just about words. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, has put in place a system of building blocks for the families and the victims. We have to ensure this type of tragedy never happens again and the Minister and the Government are committed to that.

Senator Humphreys proposed an amendment to the Order of Business. I do not think another Senator seconded it. To be fair, Senator Humphreys made an important point. I will have the Minister contact the Senator, as a matter of priority, after the Order of Business because the matter of the school building programme is important. As the Senator stated, there seems to have been a change of philosophy in how the programme operates. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, has a list of emerging needs. The point the Senator made about the Shellybanks school and emerging needs is important, however, and will affect all of our areas. I will endeavour to have a conversation with the Senator after this session and have the Minister speak to him as well.