Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is heckling from the floor. If the Senator wants a response then let me respond at the very least. The debate on that Bill was yesterday evening. That was the opportunity for all Members in the House to contribute. The Bill had passed with the support of anyone who turned up yesterday, who made the time to be here yesterday, and who spoke on the Bill in support of that Bill.

My information in terms of the Curragh is that ultimately every local authority has a responsibility to make sure that housing is provided for members of the Travelling community. That was not the debate yesterday. There are illegal encampments on the Curragh Plains and I am informed that these are people who are passing through. They are not necessarily indigenous to Kildare or people who are working with the local authority in that area. Ultimately they are illegal encampments. That is the purpose of the Bill. The intention behind the Bill, which I fully support, is that we protect those Curragh Plains because of their importance, not just to Kildare but to the country as well. There were people in the Public Gallery here including one lady who had to close her business because of it. That is totally unacceptable. The opportunity for that debate was yesterday.

Senator Paul Gavan-----