Tairgim: (1) THAT section 128F of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 be amended, with effect from 10 November 2022— (a) in subsection (1)— (i) by the insertion of the following definitions: “ ‘qualifying group’ means, subject to subsection (2A), a group of companies that consists of the following (and no other companies): (a) a qualifying holding company; (b) its qualifying subsidiary or subsidiaries; (c) as the case may be, its relevant subsidiary or subsidiaries; ‘qualifying holding company’ means a company— (a) wh…

I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues for tabling this motion. I fully accept the bona fides of what is in the motion and of Deputy Boyd Barrett's perspective. I do not agree with everything in the motion, although there are parts with which I do agree. I will say to Deputy Connolly that there is nothing in the five-page countermotion that is incorrect. That is factual. She does not have to agree with it all, and I respect that too. However, this debate again shows the scale of the challenges we have in ho…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Deputies for their contributions. At the outset I also want to thank all of the Deputies for their support for this very important legislation which needs to come in expeditiously and urgently. That is the reason for the truncated nature of the Committee and Remaining Stages, which the Members understand. I need to get this legislation into the Seanad and into law. I did not want to give too long a lead time in flagging it either because that could have other unintended con…

Okay. While I am dealing with the amendment specifically, I will also deal with some of the points that have been raised. I will certainly look at a local authority circular, as raised by Deputy Ó Broin. I know, and the Deputy has acknowledged, that it is a different time and is a different measure we are taking. I am already engaged, however, with our local authorities on how social housing tenants who may fall into arrears are dealt with. This is by way of repayment plans and all of the various things we can use.…

Does the Deputy get trolled?

Subject to being passed in the Dáil and Seanad, the legislation will take effect from 1 November and will apply to notices to quit issued from that date onwards. That is very clear in what we are doing. It is because of the potential for challenge that we crafted this Bill really carefully with the advice of the Attorney General and his office as to what would stand up to such a challenge. I believe this legislation would have a very good prospect of standing up to challenge but none of us can say that it will not …

Well, the Deputy asked me again.

I have given the Deputy the answer already. Whether he likes it or not, we have to balance the rights and protections of the tenant and the rights of the property owner. This is a very significant short-term intervention to provide needed protections. I believe the balance has been struck correctly so that the legislation cannot be successfully challenged. This is not a silver bullet. There is no question of that. We know that we are living in absolutely extraordinary times not just in Ireland, but all across Europ…

What kind of house is the Deputy referring to?

I did not say that. I said in this legislation there is no provision to extend it.

Deputy Ó Broin should have a word with his colleagues.

I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue. Uisce Éireann, or Irish Water, now has an unprecedented capital budget that is on a multi-annual basis. That will include some very important infrastructural upgrades that pertain directly to the Deputy's area and the quality of water in Dublin Bay, such as the second wastewater treatment plant at Ringsend, which will be fully commissioned shortly. Regarding water testing and water quality, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and I have engaged with groups such as SOS …

I thank the Deputy. The week after next we will have a full debate on Irish Water. I wish to inform the Deputy, as he might not be aware, that we have given a commitment as part of the framework agreement that there is no compulsory transfer of any council staff in any local authority to Irish Water. We are creating a single, publicly owned utility. We have had very good engagement with all of the unions. I met them again last week. We are advancing on that. Any worker who does not wish to transfer will not be tran…

Does the Deputy want the answer?

Yes.

Deputy Gannon has objected to it.

Is Deputy Gannon supporting the redevelopment of north O'Connell Street? He is not, so come on.

Stop objecting.

I move: THAT provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging of, in accordance with an order made by the Minister under section 25 of the Act, the fees payable to Tailte Éireann in relation to the performance by it of its functions.

I wish to share time with Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan. Nothing is more important to this country than tackling the housing crisis head-on. As I have said on a number of occasions, following a decade of undersupply rents are still too high, homebuilding is still too low and too many people cannot afford to buy their own home. Too many parents and grandparents are worried about where their children will live and far too many of our most vulnerable are without a safe and secure roof over their head. That is why hous…