Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for setting out the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill and for informing us of the significant amendments that are to follow. It being my debut in the House, I cannot comment in detail on the proposed amendments and the discussion that will follow. Anything that ameliorates and fast tracks our response to the housing crisis is very welcome.

I come from the university sector. I have been there for the past 20 years. I teach classes of postgraduate students, the most wonderful young people in their mid-20s and, increasingly, none of them have the very modest aspiration of owning their own home or apartment. That is something I know everybody in this House and the Dáil is anxious to work on. We need to fix that because shelter and a home is a functional prerequisite. It is a fundamental human right in the UN Charter. If we do not have that functional prerequisite, we have by definition a dysfunctional society. I am glad to see the work that is being done. I know there is disagreement on the shared equity scheme and other elements of the Minister's proposals, but at least we are of one mind in terms of our focus in that regard.

I thank the House for welcoming me here as the University of Dublin Senator. Even though I am a Trinity graduate, like the Minister of State, I am a Christian Brothers boy from Finglas, not from Mullingar, but I do have relatives not from Kinnegad. I know the Minister of State cannot vote for me but they might be able to vote for him.