Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know that the census has been mentioned already but I am not sure the point I am going to make has been mentioned. I met the Romanian ambassador this morning. It is really important that all our new Irish right across the country make sure they record their status and identity and let us know they are here. In planning the curriculum, for example, if we know there are more than 100,000 Romanians here, it is more likely we may have Romanian as a leaving certificate subject on the curriculum. It is important that people are proud of where they came from and that they put that down on the census form. It is all completely anonymous, and it is really important that people acknowledge and appreciate that fact. This is about planning for new communities, acknowledging where we need new schools and hospitals, acknowledging that where there are more ageing populations we need to provide for them and that where there are younger populations we need to provide for them and acknowledging where we have seen massive increases in population. The Leader will be familiar with places in Fingal, Meath and so on that have seen huge increases in population that we do not really know about until the census data are made available. It is the only way we know this stuff is happening. We have had an extra year because of Covid, so it is six years since the last census. It is vital that everybody right across the nation plays their part and answers the question on the form in as much detail and with as much honesty as they possibly can in order that we can all, as a State, provide for better services for the people living here. That is my main point. I encourage everyone right across the country to fill in the census form as accurately and as honestly as they can in every respect.

Second, I wish the Trinity by-election candidates who are still in the race well. I think seven of them have been eliminated at this stage. It shows the power of transfers. I think it will go down to the wire in the end. As of that result, I will no longer be the most recent addition back to this House. I look forward to meeting and congratulating whoever gets there.

Finally, I wish to highlight that I cycle a lot and that I used never to have punctures but that I have had four in the past four months. There is an awful lot of broken glass out there. Can everybody just be considerate? The local authorities need to step up their game but, equally, can people not keep breaking glass all over the place? It is very damaging to all those people who are trying to do their bit for active travel and trying to get around the place. We need a debate on that.