Deputy Carey raises a very good point. It is about the resource of An Bord Pleanála to ensure it has the people it needs to process the work it has. I provided for an additional 42 posts over the last number of months at inspector level and senior level in the board to beef up the team there and speed up that work. I have received another workforce plan from the board for further resources that are required to work through what it has. We need an efficient planning system. We cannot have decisions delayed intermina…

I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this point. On 14 June, the Government approved a package of measures to secure electricity supplies and to help mitigate rising household electricity bills. The ongoing supply of fuel, gas and oil is something that has been discussed at Cabinet level. We are confident the situation is stable at the moment but it is something we must continue to watch. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is certainly keeping the Government and Cabinet abreast of that situation. It is a very volatile …

First, I assure Deputy Cannon that I will make contact myself with Irish Water on behalf of his constituents in Gort. I can give him an update on it that the filtration system has been replaced and both filters are now in place. They have been linked to an automatic alarm system. There is a three-day sampling and testing programme that commenced in conjunction with the environment regulation team in Irish Water and that just happened on Tuesday, 21 June. There were no issues highlighted. Irish Water continues to li…

I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this matter. One of the reasons we have seen the reduction in these payments being made over the past number of years is because there are more people working. More than 2.5 million people are working in the State, which is the highest we have ever had. That said, there are people who still need to access support by the State and the supports are there. As for making sure that people know about them, I have listened. There have been advertising campaigns on radio, which I am sure …

I thank the Acting Chairperson, Senator Boyhan. I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for her ongoing interest in this issue and, indeed, for tabling this important Commencement matter. I visited the markets with Senator Fitzpatrick not so long ago. I am acutely aware of them. I visited them when I was much younger when they were a bustling place that was full of life, full of enterprise and an important part of the north inner city. By way of a little background, the urban regeneration and development fund is a cornerstone …

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. He is 100% correct. I have been in the buildings with Senator Fitzpatrick and, fortunately, they are in good shape. I remain to be convinced of the level of restoration work required to bring the market back into use. We can look to the English Market in Cork, El Nacional in Barcelona and others. We can see what they add to their areas. I have no doubt whatsoever the fruit and vegetable market will be incredibly popular with people and will be a hub for enterprise but also for c…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus le gach Seanadóir a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht thábhachtach seo ar Bhille an-tábhachtach, agus go háirithe na Seanadóirí Fitzpatrick agus Cummins, mar bhaill den choiste, as ucht a gcuid oibre. I thank the Senators for their contribution to the debates. I was not here for the first part. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, was here but I was watching contributions on the screen in the office. This Bill represents a fundamental reform of our elector…

Ba mhaith liom míle buíochas a ghabháil leis an nGrúpa Réigiúnach as an rún a chuir siad os comhair na Dála inniu. Díospóireacht dearfach, tábhachtach agus cuiditheach is ea é. It has been a positive but constructive debate. I thank the Deputy for tabling the motion and I appreciate the contributions of the members of the Regional Group so far. As the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, stated at the outset, we will not be opposing the motion. The area of adaptation grants for our older people and, indee…

Deputy Doherty knows well that we are in constant engagement with families. It is a detailed piece of work that is nearing conclusion. We intend to get this legislation through the Dáil by the summer recess. The Deputy knows how important it is that we do that and I expect that, as the main Opposition party, Sinn Féin will support Government and the legislation so that it is passed before the summer recess. We have asked for Sinn Féin's input to the scheme and we wrote a detailed letter to it. Sinn Féin's housing s…

We are proceeding with the scheme-----

-----in consultation with the homeowners imminently and I expect and hope we will get the co-operation of the Deputy and his party colleagues to ensure the legislation is passed by the summer recess.

I was in Tipperary last week and met with the chief executive, director of services, the cathaoirleach and mayors. I confirmed to them again very clearly, as I did to the Deputy two weeks ago, that the affordable housing fund is open to every local authority, including Tipperary County Council. It might be of information to him that the council is working on some proposals right now. I was in Clonmel and Thurles and I met with the chief executive, as I said. The council is preparing affordable schemes. The scheme i…

No, but for just for the information of Senators, I am considering what other provisions might be introduced by way of amendment to the Bill on Report Stage. They will cover the areas to better provide for procedures and requirements to be followed in the case of tenancy terminations and for an enhanced role for the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, in this regard. Second, I am considering an amendment to extend the registration period for approved housing bodies, AHBs, with the AHB regulatory authority. I am also …

I will address amendments Nos. 5 and 15, 16, 17 and 19, tabled by the Government, and amendment No. 18, tabled by Senators Moynihan, Hoey, Sherlock and Wall. I welcome the amendment proposed to this section regarding the appointment of board members. Similar amendments were put forward while the Bill was progressing through the Dáil. At that stage, the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, undertook to review this section and bring forward amendments. I am pleased to bring forward Government amendments providing t…

The Senator might let me respond after she has spoken.

I thank the Senator together with Senators Craughwell and Boyhan for tabling this amendment. I also thank the sector for its engagement on this important legislation to put the regulation of the providers of building works and building control on a statutory footing, which is what we need. I do not envisage this will be an extra layer of regulation and I will explain why. I will not be accepting these amendments. They seek, as the Senator said, to provide an exemption from registration for anyone who provides mecha…

These are technical amendments to correct previously incorrect references. Amendment No. 47 is in response to concerns raised during Committee Stage in the Dáil in regard to section 63. There was a concern that the section would prohibit the building control authorities from taking a prosecution against a builder who may have sanctions imposed on him or her under the Act. While this was not the intention I am pleased to move this amendment, which further clarifies that this is not the case.

I thank Senators Moynihan and Warfield for their amendments, neither of which I will be accepting. I just want to explain why. Amendment No. 8 would seek to disqualify a trade union from being appointed as the registration body. Amendment No. 10 would seek to provide that the National Building Control and Market Surveillance Office, NBCO, will be appointed the registration body. The Office of the Attorney General has advised that the Bill should not name the body that is appointed as the registration body. There is…

I thank Senator Warfield for the amendment, although I must oppose it. Section 9 allows the Minister to appoint a person to carry out periodic inspections, reviews and audits in relation to the performance of the registration body and also to furnish a report. The person, in this instance, is likely to be a professional body or professional auditing body and, therefore, it is not appropriate that the person be appointed through the Public Appointments Service. All appointments will be made in line with public procu…

These amendments relate to section 21 and are to ensure that inspectors shall be independent in the performance of their functions. The Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, already indicated on Report Stage in the Dáil that he would bring forward such an amendment in response to amendments tabled on Committee and Report Stages. In relation to amendment No. 13, the Zalewski decision requires that decision makers operate independently in the performance of their decision-making functions and these amendments ensure…