Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note there is a huge amount of business on the Order of Business and it is our task and our job get through it, and I hope we will. I take this opportunity to thank the Leader's office because it is important to do so as we come to the end of another political term. I also acknowledge the significant work Ms Orla Murray in the Leader's office does in the context of organising the Order of Business. It is not an easy task to balance all the demands, all the asks and all the legislation and put it into a structure for us. We will do our best and I hope we will get through the legislation we are expected to get through today.

I commend and thank the Cathaoirleach and all the members of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. Our report on the constitutional future of the island of Ireland was finalised this morning and I acknowledge the important work of the Leas-Chathaoirleach, as well as Senators Black, Casey, Currie, Martin, Ó Donnghaile and Wall. It is a very important body of work. It is an interim report, as we always said it would be. My ask is that we have a debate in this House on this and possibly early in the new year. We had some really positive and enlightening contributions. I single out the young people who came into the Chamber in large droves. The key issues for them were equality in education, jobs, homes and the environment. They were the key issues we echo very much here.

Senator Seery Kearney mentioned something the Cabinet approved yesterday. The Cabinet also approved new planning laws that will now go to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, of which I am a member. There they will be robustly scrutinised. One thing I can clearly say is emails are a barometer of public opinion for many politicians and I have had a huge amount of emails expressing absolute shock and horror from community groups all over the country who feel they are in some way going to be short-changed. We will have to tease that out in committee. There is clearly a role for communication here and I am not privy to the full outline of what is proposed, but that is why I say there is a fear out there. There is going to be a challenge. We are going to have to give this a serious in-depth analysis. This is going to be most hotly-contested legislation of the next six months.