We certainly do not want that.

The Senators may wish to move their amendments. It is up the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Okay.

I will respond to all Senators, including Senators Moynihan and Warfield. I thank Members for the constructive approach they have taken towards this Bill. It is good to see there is broad agreement. I appreciate it. As I said, there are other elements, which I will speak about towards the end of the debate. We will also be bringing forward a further tenancy reform Bill later in the year. I have introduced these measures sooner than anticipated as we were able to do this to deal with the specific 8% rent increase. I…

I will be brief but I thank Senator Moynihan and her colleagues for tabling this amendment. In this Bill we are restricting the value of deposits to a maximum of two months' rent. This relates to a deposit equal to a month's rent and then a month of advance rent. Effectively, it has been capped absolutely at two months' rent. The deposit should be returnable and it remains the property of the tenant. Work is ongoing on deposit protection, which is an area that is being looked at. There are complexities in the matte…

I will comment on the four Government amendments. Amendment No. 13 inserts a new section 6 into the Bill to amend section 20 of the 2004 Act which provides for frequency of rent reviews. Currently, section 20 of the 2004 Act provides that, generally, rent reviews are allowed to occur no more frequently than annually in an RPZ or biannually outside an RPZ. However, a rent review is allowed during the 12-month review period in an RPZ, or during the 24-month review period outside an RPZ, if a substantial change in the…

I thank Senator Warfield and his colleagues for tabling this amendment. We discussed this issue at some length on Second Stage, when I outlined the position in this regard. Included in this important legislation is, as the Senator rightly said, the extension of protections for those worst affected by the impact of Covid-19. Those protections include a ban on evictions and a ban on rent increases up to January 2022, by way of seeking protection via self-declaration through the RTB to stipulate that one's income has …

It is magnificent to be in the House on a day when unanimity has broken out across the board. This is great. Gabhaim fíor-bhuíochas le gach Seanadóir a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht thábhachtach úsáideach agus phráinneach seo. Táim fíor-bhuíoch as a gcabhair agus an obair atá déanta acu an tseachtain agus an mhí seo caite. I thank all Senators for their input and for their efforts in the debate we have had. It has been useful and positive, and it was an urgent debate that needed to take place. These are real measure…

The Deputy might also speak to amendment No. 13, which is mine.

I have not moved amendment No. 13 yet but I might address some of the points raised on it and also address amendments Nos. 1 to 12. Deputy Boyd Barrett moved all 12 of those amendments and I will address them first. I thank Deputies for taking the time to table amendments and for a comprehensive debate, both on Second and Committee Stages. As the Chairman of the committee, Deputy Matthews, mentioned, we went through 268 or 269 amendments and myself, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, and the Minister of State, D…

Are there any amendments the Deputy wants to highlight in particular?

We are discussing amendments Nos. 1 to 13.

Does the Deputy miss it?

Táim ag éisteacht.

That is not true.

Are we not letting Deputy Boyd Barrett in again?

I will respond after Deputy Boyd Barrett. I will give way.

I know what Deputy Boyd Barrett is going to say.

In fairness to Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues, at least they tabled amendments.

I wish to correct something Deputy Gould said when he referred to Deputy Matthews as a new Deputy. Deputy Gould is too and he is as entitled as anyone else to make a contribution on the floor of the House.