On the question of who builds houses, the answer is not real estate investment trusts. I live in the city centre and see their offices. They are not building houses. Builders build houses but sometimes that middle tier is what we mean when we talk about developers. In many cases, we are talking about investment funds. I see many things being built. When we are driven by the policies of developers and investors, although I am not suggesting that about anybody here, they will go for where the best investment is. That…

I wish to state that I support the amendment. It is immensely sensible. We had previous debates on the issue. One of the first Bills brought forward by the Civil Engagement Group and a Green Party Member at the time concerned the issue of vacant sites. We sought to increase the vacant site levy at the time. We were told that it was not possible on the advice of the Attorney General, but two years later, exactly what we had suggested was implemented. It is always good to remember that the advice of the Attorney Gene…

I move amendment No. 34: In page 44, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: “ Report 45. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining supports that are available to local authorities, the Housing Agency and other State bodies under national or European Union financing mechanisms for the purposes of obtaining financing for the development or provision of dwellings to be designated as cost rental dwellings under section 31 .”

This amendment addresses the fact that the fiscal context has changed, as we have been flagging for a long time. More financing is available to the State, other public actors and the European Union. This is a question of finance from the European Union and from others. A number of my amendments suggesting specific mechanisms that might be used were ruled out of order. This amendment provides that within six months of the passing of the Act, the Minister lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report outlining the…

Votáil.

I will try to reduce to six minutes to allow time. I am sure we are keen to hear the Minister's response to the issues raised. I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for bringing this Bill. It is also appropriate to thank Senator Bacik. Fundamentally, this piece of legislation is part of a suite of legislation looking at the intersection between gender equality and employment rights which Senator Bacik has brought through these Houses, including the important legislation on collective bargaining and, ind…

I am very proud to second this Bill introduced by my colleague, Senator Ruane. I commend her and her assistant, Sebastian McAteer, on the work they have done in introducing an important piece of legislation, one that is needed internationally. It has been really remarkable to note the level of distress caused by them and the concern around the abuse of NDAs internationally that has arisen in response to this legislation, based on what was an initial area of inquiry on NDAs within one realm. That shows how necessary…

I thank the Minister for effectively accepting the amendments that I put forward in the Seanad. They dealt with a very serious issue whereby the Bill, as drafted, was indefinite. The Bill allowed for indefinite extension by three months' resolution, followed by a three month's resolution, with no final end date. I made the case in the Seanad on the seriousness of what that would mean in terms of the balance between the Executive and the Legislature. I thank the Minister for taking them on board. I would have liked …

Yes. I will not speak for much longer on this amendment as we have discussed it. The amendment deals with the amounts that would be paid to a provider of affordable housing, for example, a developer with whom a local authority or housing authority has an arrangement. There are two clauses here. One relates to the price paid directly by the direct purchaser, that is, the individual who will live in the house if the owner occupier element holds, which I think it should, versus the amount agreed with a local authority…

However, my point is that the difference should be made up only up to the market price and not above it. As I said, there are two elements of this. The first is the agreement that is made - the agreement a council, for example, might have made with an AHB to say it is going to buy affordable houses at €300,000 each or whatever. Then there is the price made available to the purchaser, who we hope is an owner-occupier - that was another set of amendments but I have been reassured on that - and he or she might be payi…

I am happy to pursue this further on Report Stage but to be clear-----

Okay but we will come back to the Part 5 question as it is a slightly different Part 5 question.

I am going to withdraw it for now and come back and engage on it before Report Stage. There is a valid concern here and I might need some answers in writing on that.

Just to clarify, I will be reintroducing it on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 27: In page 10, line 8, after “person” to insert the following: “except where such an amount would bring the total amount paid for the dwelling to greater than market price”. Again, I will move it and withdraw it, in order to come back to this on Report Stage.

I move amendment No. 28: In page 10, line 14, after “may” to insert “in exceptional circumstance”.

I move amendment No. 29: In page 10, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(c) in State ownership or owned by an approved housing body.”

I move amendment No. 30: In page 10, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following: “(1) The purchase of such open market dwellings may constitute no more than 10 per cent of the affordable housing purchase supported by a housing authority in any given year.” I note that the 10% target I have set here may be a matter of concern. I will reserve the right to reintroduce the amendment with a different percentage. I will press the amendment as it stands. I may come back with a different percentage that is agreeable …

The question is about the definition of "market dwelling".

I move amendment No. 36: In page 11, line 22, after “occupation” to insert the following: “and the persons making the application make a declaration of their intent to be owner-occupiers of the affordable dwelling for such a period as might be specified by the Minister”.