Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I welcome the majority of the contents of the Bill and the great opportunities that are being afforded across Departments in the year to come. Senator McDowell has raised one of the issues I was going to talk about, that is, the housing issue, and I certainly agree with some of what he said, particularly the fact that the age demographic of those that now own property in this country is on the increase and it is an issue. What I am particularly pleased about is the policy change in respect of how we provide social housing units from the point of view of involving our local authorities across the country. I do not understand why they were not involved in more recent times. The local authorities were the bedrock when we were building houses in this country. I do believe that their input will create a great change in the housing units we will build. It could take another year or 18 months before we see the fruits of that work on the ground, but I welcome that.There are some exciting developments in regard to the technological universities. When I was growing up there were regional technical colleges, RTCs, across the country. The work they did enabled Ireland to evolve from what it was in the 1970s and the 1980s to what it is today. Most of them evolved to become institutes of technology. We, too, have to evolve. Many great industries have come to this country as a result of the work of the institutes of technology and our universities. I am delighted that we are moving with the times and continuing the trend of attracting a smart economy because of our smart workforce. I am delighted that we are moving forward in the vein of the technological universities.

I am delighted also that there was a small breakthrough this afternoon in regard to the Northern Ireland protocol and Brexit. Brexit will bring difficulties to our shores. We have done a great deal to minimise the impact of it. With Brexit will also come opportunities and we will need to make the most of them.

The budget also makes provision for the development of greenways and walkways, which is a commitment in the programme for Government. It is an exciting venture to develop these greenways and not just the small ones, but the larger ones cross-county and also cross-Border. There are great opportunities to do that. The shared island unit provides great opportunities to move this island forward as one nation and one people on a shared basis. The unit brings with it many opportunities for conversation on the differences between our people on this island be that on a religious or political basis. It also provides an exciting opportunity for us all. Given where Brexit is at now, the timing is key.

I attended the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement earlier today at which we received a presentation on the affordability of a united Ireland. I contributed to that debate. Many people are talking about a united Ireland but it is not talk that I necessarily welcome. The Good Friday Agreement was established on the basis of consent. We need to move forward on the basis of consent. We need to be careful with our language. We all want unity but we need to be careful in how we achieve it. It needs to be done on a similar basis to the Good Friday Agreement. That can only be done on a shared basis. Language is important in all of these matters.

The Finance Bill provides for many great opportunities across many Departments. I welcome this opportunity to speak to it today.