I am not. He has been on record as-----

From my perspective, the Bill is a genuine attempt to bring about the start of the reform of the Seanad and deal with the Supreme Court judgment. Senators mentioned the programme for Government and I discussed this with Senator McDowell a number of years ago when we met virtually during Covid. The programme for Government, Our Shared Future, does not make an explicit commitment to the issue of Seanad reform. I respect this House. I had the honour of serving in this House for five years. I see the benefits of a bica…

I know there have been difficulties. Senators Mullen and Byrne and others commended the NUI on the work done. As the central registration authority, they are the right people to do that. We have an opportunity to get the Seanad register up-to-date and in a modern format once and for all, but it will require reregistrations. All those on the existing NUI and University of Dublin registers who meet the eligibility criteria will be contacted to confirm whether they want to be added to the register for the new higher e…

I did not interrupt the Senator once. I sat here and listened to her full contribution, as I have done on many occasions on many different pieces of legislation and on many different issues. I never interrupt the Senator. All that I am saying to the Senators who right now, on Second Stage, feel they should oppose this legislation is that if they oppose it, they are effectively opposing the road to Seanad reform. Whether this is imperfect or not extensive enough, and I respect that view, it is a step in that directi…

I thank Deputy Ó Broin. We did discuss this matter. I welcome the support for the Bill. We know that in the instance of multiple occupancy, cost-rental tenants derive a number of benefits such as security of tenure, below-market rents and high-quality housing. However, in some cases it is envisaged that incomes could rise and, as individual circumstances change, there may be opportunities to move on to different accommodation situations, to other cost rental in the private market or to purchase a home. We discussed…

I have met cost rental tenants, single individuals, who have rented cost rental properties on their own. This mechanism is not brought in as a cost reduction measure for the approved housing body, AHB, partners or indeed the LDA partners. The Deputy will have a view on that. I will just say it is not. As the Deputy has outlined already, at different times of their lives, people may want to share. Right now, the situation is that if a single person wants to share with another single person, and they are not a family…

While it is a relevant point, it is not relevant to the legislation or indeed the section we are dealing with.

Through the Chair, this is not oral questions. We are dealing with important legislation here. A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, we can go down the road of me answering questions on every aspect of housing policy. Just to be fair to Deputy Healy-Rae on this, in respect of tenant purchase schemes through local authorities, they exist and are in place right now. The help to buy grant is a matter for Revenue. It is a grant that I support but it is an activation measure that relates to new properties. There is no prohibition on…

Of course we will. Bígí cinnte faoi sin.

Tomorrow's meeting of the Oireachtas joint committee will be important as well. The Deputy will be able to look in further detail and ask further questions. I appreciate that he asked questions on Second Stage as well. This is the evolution of cost rental, a model that did not exist here less than three years ago. As we build up that scale, we will consider what might be a scheme of priorities or allocation plans. For argument's sake, there has been discussion around key workers. We could take developments that mig…

I thank Members for their input. This is important legislation, which we debated on Second Stage as well. It will be appreciated by the approved housing body sector to deal with the AHBRA registration issue, and to legislate for the cost-rental tenant in situ scheme and for changes we have just discussed with regard to cost rental as the sector continues to grow throughout the country. I appreciate the constructive nature of the engagement. I know that the Oireachtas joint committee will have further discussions to…

Watch that change.

Seanad amendments Nos. 1 and 2 relate to section 1, which sets out the Short Title and a standard technical provision providing for the commencement of the Bill. Amendment No. 1 moves the collective citation relating to the Residential Tenancies Act from Part 24 to Part 1 in order that all collective citations are contained together in section 1. This increases clarity for the reader. There are five proposed amendments to amendment No. 2. Should I speak on all the amendments in the grouping, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle…

That is fine.

I will do that. As I said, there are five proposed amendments to amendment No. 2. Amendments Nos. 1, 5, 6 and 7 to amendment No. 2, tabled by Deputies Ó Broin and Gould, seek to insert new subsections into section 1 of the Bill relating to proposed new reporting requirements. They propose that the Minister should report on the Bill's compliance with the Aarhus Convention before commencing provisions. They further propose, as does amendment No. 8 to amendment No. 2, tabled by Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, that no Part sh…

Just on this group of amendments.

Deputy Boyd Barrett does not have to speak to this grouping.

Chair? Deputy Healy-Rae deserves to be heard.

I thank the Deputies. I will endeavour to answer as many of the questions as were put forward on this grouping - amendments Nos. 1 to 18, inclusive - as I possibly can. At the outset, and for the record of the House, this charge that this legislation is in any way, shape or form rushed is completely and utterly incorrect.

I will give the timeline. In September 2021-----