I am sorry if I surprised you.

I have gotten rather deaf, I am afraid, so I did not quite hear my name. I thank the Leader for providing me with Private Members' time, in which I will introduce the National Housing Co-operative Bill 2017. It deals with the biggest problem to face this country, and people have not yet woken up to it. There will be an enormous number of people dispossessed from their homes by vulture funds unless the Oireachtas acts. I ask my colleagues, even if they have not considered speaking, to come and speak briefly to show support for this Bill. In the interests of the Irish people it is time we put a stop to evictions.

I support the comments of my colleague, Senator Boyhan, on the power-sharing and coalition talks in the North of Ireland. The Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, has concluded an agreement with the British Government and the party is now hanging fire over the Irish language Bill. An increasing number of people in Northern Ireland are enthusiastic about the Irish language. It is good and it does not do the slightest harm. I do not know what the DUP's problem is with it. Apparently it wants to introduce parallel measures for what I can only describe as Orange slang, as it is not really a language at all. If that keeps the party happy, why not do it? Why would Sinn Féin not accept it if the Presbyterians wish to gabble at each other with these funny words? Away with them, as it does not do anybody the slightest bit of harm. There is no excuse whatever on the part of either Sinn Féin or the Democratic Unionist Party not to get an administration up and running in Northern Ireland.

The outstanding issues for finding a resolution in the North include an Irish language Act. We should remember there is a Welsh language Act and a Scottish language Act in place. Along with the bill of rights, these are issues outstanding from the Good Friday Agreement that we all speak of but which has not been implemented fully. There is also the matter of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual rights. I have watched with great interest the response of the British media and commentariat, who have all of a sudden discovered the policies of the DUP in recent times. It is those very policies that we wish to deal with and ensure we can have a genuine rights-based society in the North of Ireland. I hope we can achieve that.

I rise to speak about the report of the expert panel on concrete blocks. I am sure the Leader is familiar with this report and the topic was covered again on RTE's "Prime Time" in recent days. According to the report, up to 5,000 private homes - I believe it could be more - in Donegal could be affected. It is devastating. The home is the biggest purchase by a family or individual and it is repaid over decades but these homes are falling apart. There are hundreds of homes in Mayo affected, as well as the homes and council houses in Donegal. It is a profound crisis. As the Leader knows, there is a very good precedent in the pyrite redress scheme.

I ask for a debate as this is a very important issue. It is correct that there were many debates in the Dáil on the pyrite problem and that culminated in the redress scheme. I ask the Leader to set aside time in this Chamber for a debate on this report. We need a redress scheme for families. There was a profound failure in building control and in the self-regulation of the building sector. The State failed our citizens profoundly and we cannot walk away and let the houses crumble in front of these people. It is a devastating matter. Not a week goes by in which I do not speak to a family in my home county about what is happening. I can also tell Members about similar problems in Mayo. Will the Leader confirm today he will set aside time for a debate on this very important report? Will he bring the Minister before us and impress upon him the urgent need for a redress scheme?

I support Senator Norris and his Bill. I am not necessarily supporting the Bill completely but it is an issue with which we must deal. There are over 32,000 families with difficulties repaying mortgages. Their financial position has not changed a great amount in the past few years and we now need to deal with the issue. We have a new problem in that with the flotation of shares in AIB, the bank is going to come under much pressure over the next 12 to 18 months to offload mortgages so as to look after its new shareholders. We have an obligation to householders and I specifically mean people's family homes; this is not where it is a second or third house. We must have a serious debate on the matter and I welcome the Bill. Unfortunately, I will be tied up at the health committee as we have representatives of the Health Service Executive before us once every three months. I also want to hold them to account today as there are a number of issues where I am not happy with the replies I have received. I may not take part in the debate on the Senator's Bill but I thank Senator Norris for bringing it forward.

There will be an hour and three quarters of debate on the National Housing Co-operative Bill proposed by Senator Norris. There will be time enough this evening, which is the point made by the Senator.