Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend and thank the front-line workers in the emergency services and across statutory agencies who have been out during Storm Barra and no doubt will be out again, unfortunately, over the rest of the winter dealing with adverse weather events.While acknowledging and thanking them for their work is important, we might give some thought across the Chamber to how we might do an item of work that would support those on the front line. The past few days have highlighted the issues Senator Craughwell, in particular, has brought to the attention of the Chamber in recent weeks and months concerning our emergency services.

A draft housing supply strategy was announced by the Minister with responsibility for housing in the North, Deirdre Hargey. Under that strategy it is planned to more than 100,000 homes over the next 15 years, of which at least one third will be social homes. It is planned that high-quality social and affordable homes for families and workers will be built in record-breaking numbers. We, as Members of the Seanad, should call for Ministers, North and South, to engage through the North-South Ministerial Council to learn about best practice and how to effectively deal with the housing crisis.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, was in Derry last week for a series of engagements on North-South co-operation in the field of further and higher education and third-level education. It is an important area of work that often gets overlooked in terms of its development. It was encouraging to hear that from the Minister and the Government. I would welcome the opportunity early in the new year to have statements on cross-Border co-operation on third-level education with the Minister in attendance in order that he can update the House on that.

I am glad the Deputy Leader is occupying that chair this morning and I am sure she will agree to what I am requesting and will do her best to facilitate it. As we approach the conclusion of the work of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, I would like us to have an opportunity early in the new year, similar to that which we had with respect to the interim report, to engage and have statements on that committee’s work on the report and to have the Minister in attendance. While what will be will be in terms of the committee, we should ensure particular emphasis is given to the issue of Brexit in this Chamber and we keep a watching brief on that issue. The Minister has been very good in facilitating our requests for statements. In the context of everything else that is going on, we should ensure we do not take our eye off the ball on this issue. I know the chair of our committee, the Deputy Leader, will work hard to endeavour to ensure that happens.