I thank the Senator.

If the Cathaoirleach could just give me another minute-----

It might be appropriate to raise this as a Commencement matter.

We seem to have political will, but we do not know why there are delays. If we need to put a strategic unit to deliver major infrastructural issues within the Department of the Taoiseach-----

The Senator’s time is up.

-----and overcome any delays through a constitutional referendum, then let us do it, because we are sick of waiting for it.

Thank you, Senator. Anois, Senator Vincent P. Martin.

On this day 20 years ago, 51-year-old journalist, Martin O'Hagan, lost his life in the most brutal of circumstances. While walking home with his wife, he was shot twice in the back. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Among legislators, media participants, and laypeople, a silence pervades about this particular thing that matters. Today, it is compellingly appropriate to mark our appreciation, not just for one journalist, but for freedom of expression and for press freedom. These are vital components of the foundation of our democratic society, which require our vigilance because they are under constant threat from forces which are visible and from forces which are less obvious. Complacency is but one of the less obvious threats to this treasured feature of our society.

The barrister and columnist, Elaine Byrne, said that Martin O’Hagan was a fearless investigative journalist whose love affair with journalism was motivated by a desire to shine a light on the dark corners of organised crime.

Fr. Brian Darcy, a colleague of Mr. O'Hagan's at The Sunday World, said at his graveside, "Martin was gunned down because he got nearer the truth than the rest of us." His killers still walk the streets today. There is a pressing need to reinvestigate his killing. Such a fundamental attack on freedoms should not go unanswered and uninvestigated. We must never give up.

I thank the Senator for raising that issue. Mr. O'Hagan was one of the only journalists killed during the Troubles. Senator Martin has raised the broader issues of press freedom and the importance of journalism. In that context, we also think of Lyra McKee and other journalists around the world who have been murdered in the course of their work. I thank Elaine Byrne. The 20th anniversary of the murder of Mr. O'Hagan was featured on "Morning Ireland" earlier today.

Next, I call Senator McGahon.