During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: I have a concern about defective buildings. We have had the experience in recent times of Berkeley in California but also of Priory Hall and the row of homes in County Kildare that burned down. It seems there are defective buildings likely to be occurring even yet. During the Celtic tiger building went up at such speed that I do not think there were controls on them. I understand the Minister is looking at introducing a review of building regulations. I think it would be very useful to have him come to this Chamber so that we would have an opportunity to discuss matters...

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: Yesterday marked the passing of the Government's deadline for banks to reduce their mortgage rates, and the banks have almost completely ignored it. Some of them have said they have no intention of doing so. I ask that the House debate as a matter of urgency No. 32 on the Order Paper, which is the Central Bank (Emergency Powers) (Variable Interest Rates) Bill 2015, which I introduced three weeks ago....

During the Order of Business in the Seanad, I said: I would like to bring up the question of Seanad reform. It is a long time since we had the referendum, after which the Taoiseach came back almost immediately and talked about having had a wallop and that we would have to do something about it...

During a Seanad debate on the Growing Tourism to 2025 Strategy, I said: The Minister is giving us an opportunity today to influence the Government's new tourism action plan. The policy document has been immensely interesting to read, especially for somebody like me who grew up in the tourist business. My father opened Red Island Holiday Camp in Skerries in 1947, just after the war. My family was in the business at a time when tourism was not a big thing and there was, in particular, no enthusiasm for the types of holidaymakers we were accommodating...