We have full employment in the economy and there has been very substantial economic growth under this Government. We cannot be complacent, however, and housing is an issue. There has been significant improvement in housing in the past three years-----

-----without question. Last year 33,000 houses were built.

Covid upset the first two years of this Government in terms of construction. Since then we have made significant progress but we have more to do. It is about supply and a combination of a whole range of programmes which we currently have in place. The bottom line is it is the only plan out there. I am stunned and shocked that Sinn Féin has never produced a blueprint for housing and never produced a plan for housing.

We have to do more-----

-----to enhance the number of houses. Sinn Féin is all sound and fury and no substance.

I understand fully and I appreciate-----

No. Sinn Féin needs to do more-----

No, I am not. We are making progress but you will not acknowledge that.

With regard to the NAS industrial action, efforts have been ongoing right throughout June on this. I am happy to say that, following continued discussion between all parties through the day, I understand that SIPTU has confirmed the strike committee has suspended industrial action - this may be an older note, however - to take part in a facilitated engagement. My understanding as of this morning, but I will double-check that, is there was a process back under way to try to avert a strike.

I thank Senators Craughwell and Wall for their contributions. This was discussed in the other House when Deputy Howlin tabled a similar amendment. I indicated to him that I had instructed my officials to examine the chain of command and the entire Defence Act 1954, insofar as it relates to proper structures. The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended a chief of the Defence Forces, a joint services approach, upgrading the chief of the Air Corps, Naval Service and Army and having all at a similar level and then…

Senator McDowell has experience of how Government works. Essentially, there is no secrecy about this at all. This was in the Commission on the Defence Forces in broad brush strokes in terms of the idea of amending the 1954 Act with a completely new chain of command, but particularly a new position of CHOD. We have no issue with summarising this in terms of what is in the heads, but then the next stage is that we have to draft it and then we have to engage on the basis of the draft Bill, which is normal and makes se…

I accept the Senator's right to raise it, but I will not insert this into this Bill given that we are doing a comprehensive overhaul of the 1954 Act and of the chain of the command. That is my argument, really.

Again, there is no secrecy here. The Government is entitled to draft a Bill. It is a very fundamental point.

The Senator is showing a latter-day-----

Perhaps it is from in his days as Attorney General. I do not either; there is no point. There is no issue with the principles.

There has been a very sensible discussion of these issues. I refer to creating the position of the CHOD and joining the three services together in terms of a joint services approach with each having its head or chief of service. Then, we would have a vice CHOD as well in terms of the upper structure. The issues that will ultimately remain to be determined, which is the edifice, essentially, will be how we demarcate between military and civilian authority and the detail of the role of the CHOD vis-à-vis the services…

The Senator will see that when the Bill is published.

It is an executive function to draft a Bill. Senator McDowell knows that as well as anybody.

The Senator does. Come on.

That is exactly the point. It is far more transparent today.