I speak here tonight on a fascinating day in its own way. In here in the Dáil Chamber, we saw many different things happening. At the same time, this ultimately is really important legislation before us here tonight. I have seen many contributors from different sides, some positive and some negative, but it really speaks to the importance of infrastructure for us and within our own areas. Many people spoke about their own towns and their own villages because ultimately, that is the infrastructure they are all aware of. Whether it was towns like Oranmore that was mentioned, towns in Cork or the aforementioned in south Dublin, the need for infrastructure with housing all across their areas is key. As a country, one thing we probably have failed to keep up with is the delivery of key infrastructure in Ireland. We have been an economic success story and indeed, an industrial powerhouse for our size but we do not have the infrastructure we deserve. This legislation may be one small step on the road to helping deliver that infrastructure. Hopefully, this Bill will be the start of that infrastructure being delivered into the country. As a public representative in north Kildare, I see all too clearly the lack of infrastructure, be it the lack of a second bridge in Celbridge, be it the DART+ not having gone out so far or be it a need for a second bridge in Clane for which there already is a need, not to mind the need for the type of social infrastructure Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke about. There is a need for more GPs, new astro pitches and the schools we all know too well but what we are talking about here specifically is the critical infrastructure and the difficulties we have in the State in delivering it. In fairness, I heard Deputy O'Gorman asking key questions as well. All of those will be looked at and focused on. Deputy Boyd Barrett asked similar questions about the environment but at the same time, we have seen that as a country, we have got bogged down in judicial reviews and public authorities delivering what they should do. I think it was Deputy Hearne when I listened to him earlier on who said these should be basic things that should already be in place and about the idea and concept that public bodies are not speaking to each other as a matter of course and are not working each other as a matter of course. Ultimately, we are all finding to our cost they are not doing so, hence the reason there is a need for this legislation. We all know the need for key infrastructure. Indeed, we have seen the impact of where there have been difficulties with infrastructure. Only in the last week, we have seen how quickly the country can grind to a half if that infrastructure is not in place in certain ways. What we are doing here is to deliver even more of that same infrastructure. Obviously, as someone on the infrastructure committee, I have seen many of the aforementioned groups who have come to us, be it from a building perspective, a planning perspective, local authorities, Uisce Éireann or whoever they may be and we all know the range of difficulties they face in delivering their own key infrastructure. We need to ensure they have the best way of delivering it. This Government has put forward €102 billion to be spent in the next four years. That is a significant amount of money in a country that has a significant need for infrastructure. Hopefully, we will be able to deliver that in the term of this Government. I know it is a significant pressure. A key factor that ultimately will decide the fate of many of us who are on this side of the Chamber is whether we can deliver that infrastructure for the country. I hope to do so. I also hope this Critical Infrastructure Bill, not to mind its impossible imperfections or whether it does enough, is ultimately a step in the right direction. I hope it will have faster and better delivery and ensure the co-ordination and the streamlined nature of improved projects in the years ahead.

Sentiment score: 0.15