Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It seems that Senator Maria Byrne and I will be following each other around for the rest of our lives after the by-election. We always tend to speak before or after each other. It is interesting being on this side of the Chamber. I was the final Fianna Fáil speaker in the previous Seanad, sitting on the opposite side, and that was on 27 March 2020 and the start of the pandemic. We were wrapping up the emergency legislation. I did not think I would be gone a week later and be back this fast. It is nice to be here.

I will touch on a couple of points now we are back in this beautiful Chamber. I was not going to refer to the topic referred to by Senator McDowell but I know the Minister in question, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is incredibly busy delivering a housing programme. I am sure many Members in this House would not want him distracted too much from that particular task.

I was not here for the entire contribution because I was attending a committee meeting but I heard Senator Fitzpatrick referring to the vaccination programme. We have come so far in that respect, and even in the few months since we last sat. It is a fantastic programme.

The Seanad must also discuss some other matters. I very much welcome that soft plastics are now allowed in recycling bins.That is a great improvement in recovering and being able to recycle product but we need the Minister in here to discuss how we will reduce the amount of packaging we get in every way, reuse what we can and then recycle everything else. We should not be allowing products that cannot be recycled through the packaging chain at all.

We need to talk about the issue of passports. It is improving but every one of us had queries over the summer about delays and about children's passports. However, we do not want people who should not get passports getting them.

We need to have a debate about post-pandemic Ireland. There are many people for whom working from home did not work but there are an awful lot of people for whom it did work. Many people benefited from not having to spend 15 to 20 hours per week in the car, saved on fuel charges, got to spend more time with their families and saved on all the costs that are involved in commuting long distances every day. We need to see that aspect of it as well as looking at the people who need to get back to offices.

I congratulate Senator Moynihan on her wedding last weekend and I congratulate Senator Ward on his engagement.