A number of questions were asked and I will answer them in reverse order. That would be the handiest way to do it as I can cover both Deputies' questions. The better energy warmer homes scheme is not operated by my Department and I cannot give the Deputy details on it. I will ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, to contact Deputy Harkin about it. Our Department is involved in the scheme and draws down funding for the social housing aspect of it. Deputy Harkin asked wha…

I do not know. I will check for the Deputy. She asked me a question about one county. I am not responsible for every person county councils employ; the councillors are. However, I will check the position. The Deputy and I disagree on the accusation that I constantly spin things. I do not spin. That is why I will always fight back. I deal with facts and they are always facts. We might not agree with the delivery or how we get there. Deputy Connolly does not like it, but over 10,000 new houses are in the system that …

I will not take up the full slot but I have a couple of quick questions. I welcome the protocols published over a week ago and I ask the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, about their implementation. My understanding is there is an assumption that everybody wants to protect staff, employees and customers. I assume the reports are of a positive engagement around the protocols but perhaps the Minister can update us on that. I ask that the HSA take the approach of working with employers to give guidance so there is no fear w…

I thank the Minister on behalf of the many businesses and employees for her swift action in introducing a number of supports, along with the Department of Finance. These supports will help businesses to keep open and keep their staff employed, thereby maintaining that link with their employees which is important. Much swift action has been taken in this regard, as well as supports through the wage subsidy and other payments for employees who are out of work at the moment but who hope to get back to work. That is ph…

I know the Minister got correspondence from Play Activity and Leisure Ireland, PALI, the body which represents play centres, bowling alleys, pet farms and activity centres. Will she bear in mind that this sector needs much help too?

We are moving onto the provisions dealing with the rental sector, housing, planning and other areas. This is a Second Stage debate but I want to be clear that we are moving on from social protection to the housing element of the Bill. There was some confusion with spokespersons earlier. For clarity, I wish to state that we are moving onto the next section. Before I move on to discussing the various amendments which have been put forward and what is in the legislation, I offer my condolences to the families who have…

That is not true.

I am correcting the Deputy.

Amendment No. 1 relates to section 1(2)(a), which is the commencement provision of Part 3 of the Bill, comprising section 9, which relates to planning and building control matters. The amendment seeks to amend the Bill so that, rather than the emergency provision being commenced by order of the Minister at an appropriate and effective time, when it is needed, the emergency planning provision would instead lose this flexibility and would automatically commence this coming Monday, 30 March 2020.

I will speak on amendments Nos. 6 and 7 first. Both seek to have the three-month emergency period extended to 12 months. We think that is unnecessary. Section 4 makes adequate provision that, should the need arise, the Government can extend the emergency period beyond three months, as necessary, taking into consideration the relevant factors at the time and the advice of the Minister for Health. Again, we are bringing in these emergency powers based on the emerging public health issue. In fairness, I know the Deput…

I just need to get to-----

That is fine, but there are four amendments.

We all agree the circumstances are not ideal that we have to make all these decisions just after the election but there is the opportunity to annul it. It is unnecessary to have to come back in here to seek an extension because of the complications. We do not know what the situation will be with the virus or with the formation of a Government and the Seanad and so on. There might be an unnecessary complication and it might cause us difficulty down the road when we want to help people, as I know Members want to do. …

I do not intend to accept any of these amendments. They are all being rejected. Part 2 of this Bill is intended to operate only during the focus period of a public health emergency. I ask people to understand that we believe we have an opportunity to give greater protections to tenants for these couple of months linked to the public health emergency that exists today. Going beyond that would jeopardise this legislation and may not be able to help the people we are trying to help. There are lots of other policy disc…

I sense many other policy discussions here tonight. I understand we all come from different spaces but in this situation we need people to support this legislation for it to work. If Deputies try to insert amendments that might jeopardise the legislation, it might not work and might not give people the support we all want to give them to keep them in their homes and places of residence over the next three or four months. That is what we are trying to achieve. The Deputies want to have other policy discussions that …

Regarding Deputy Duffy's amendment, the Bill clearly states a termination notice cannot be served and consequently, we think it is not necessary to have the change the Deputy recommends. Turning to the amendment from Deputy Cian O'Callaghan concerning rent increases, no rent increases can happen during this period. Rent reviews can proceed but only a rent decrease can be given during the crisis. Rent increases can be notified, but can only come into effect afterwards. There is the usual 90 days after that as well, …