Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The CEG has put in numerous amendments around social justice for people with disabilities and for members of the Traveller community. Yesterday we were told that the planning Bill had nothing to do with gender equality. We disagree with that. We are not future-proofing through this legislation. I said it four times yesterday. It is one of the largest pieces of legislation to ever come through the two Houses and meaning no disrespect to the Minister, the Department is failing the Traveller community once again, refugees once again, and women and children who are going through domestic violence once again.

We are failing our children in the education system by putting in little sheds. In St. Mary's school in Ardara, we are putting a little shed to extend. We have no zebra crossing outside for the safety of our children. We have a crèche in Ardara that is about to fall down with mica. We are not planning for them.

We are not planning for people in Donegal. The homes of young children in Donegal are crumbling down around them.

I will not touch on any of the amendments that Senator Ruane has touched on around rural Ireland. However, if the Minister thinks this legislation is fit for purpose for the others in society, for disabled people, for Travellers, for women, for young children in educating and for extending our schools, it is not.

The Bill extends to over 700 pages. I have full-blown dyslexia. Some people would say I am not the full shilling. I have read this document for the last two weeks and to me, this is not fair and it is not just. It is an unjust piece of legislation. It is unjust to the Traveller community and people with disabilities. On climate change, we are not future-proofing, as Senator Ruane has said on amendment No. 177, around direct provision for people.

The Minister can sit there and say that the Government is solving the housing crisis. We are not solving the housing crisis - far from it. Although I do not want to, sometimes you have to be dramatic and you have to say how it is.

I hope the Minister is proud of himself. We only had 21 hours to deal with over 600 amendments that were brought forward. Now the Bill will be guillotined through and yet people at the bottom of Irish society are, once again, left behind. I congratulate Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. I congratulate the Green Party. You are again failing people at the very ends and the very margins of society. I say, "Well done to you all."

We, the Opposition, and the people living on the ground worked tooth and nail to bring about a just document and not one of our amendments are accepted. I have no more amendments to talk to but shame on the Minister and his Department for bringing forward this massive piece of legislation that is unjust.