I welcome the Minister to the House and I also welcome the introduction of the Bill. It provides a good opportunity for us to discuss and speak about this and related issues. It has taken too long for some families and it is important we get it working as soon as possible. Sinn Féin will support the Bill. It provides a much-needed regulatory framework for assisted human reproduction treatments and related research, which we have sought for a number of years. Importantly, it provides for domestic altruistic surrogac…

It may not be a point of order but I will call it that.

Will the transcript reflect our opposition to the Bill?

Go raibh maith agat.

Amendment No. 4 is in the same group.

I move amendment No. 4: In page 8, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) , the FI Fund investment strategy shall have regard to the promotion of the economic development and stability of the State, across sectors including but not limited to housing, infrastructure, energy and water.”. I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. Amendment No. 4 relates to the investment strategy under the future Ireland fund. Its purpose is to provide a f…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 12, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: ""designated housing project” has the meaning assigned to it by section 21 ;". These amendments relate to the infrastructure, climate and nature fund. Under the legislation, €2 billion will be contributed to the fund each year until 2030. The fund can be drawn down to support State expenditure from 2026 if there is a deterioration in the economy or in the fiscal position of the State. Moneys from the fund may be drawn to fund desi…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 12, line 26, to insert "or designated housing projects" after "designated environmental projects".

I move amendment No. 20: In page 16, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “Designated housing projects 21. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may designate in writing a housing project (in this Part referred to as a “designated housing project”) where he or she is satisfied that the project contributes directly or indirectly, or is likely to contribute, to the provision of social or affordable housing.”.

I move amendment No. 21: In page 16, line 30, to insert “and/or designated housing projects” after “environmental projects”.

I move amendment No. 22: In page 19, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(b) housing and infrastructure deficits,”.

I move amendment No. 23: In page 20, between lines 13 and 14, to insert the following: “(c) housing and infrastructure deficits in relation to such years as the Minister considers appropriate,”.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: notes that: - the Housing Commission’s final report was published last Wednesday; - its findings are a damning indictment of the Governments failing housing plan; - the report concluded that ‘ineffective decision making’, ‘reactive policy making’ and ‘risk aversion’ are ‘undermining affordability’; - the report argues that successive Governments have failed ‘to successfully treat housing as a critical social and economic priority’; - the report also notes that ‘Ireland has, by compariso…

I thank the Minister of State for his response and thank all the contributors to the debate. It is possible to deliver homes at €300,000 or under, depending on size and location. Under Sinn Féin’s affordable housing scheme, councils and housing bodies will build homes that people can buy or at near the cost of construction, excluding the land-related costs. This can be done by building on public land and getting the State to cover all land-related costs, including site works and development, utility connections, la…

Just 127 have been drawn down. I must also remind the House that since 2011, Fine Gael has pumped €10 billion of public money into the pockets of private landlords. The incredible thing is that €10 billion could have been used to build permanent homes for people. Senators have mentioned-----

It was suggested that we did not address the Housing Commission report. I think all three of us did in detail. However, I will conclude by addressing it again. The Housing Commission report is a damning indictment of the Government’s housing plan. The report talks about how systemic failures, ineffective decision-making, reactive policy-making and risk aversion were all impacting supply and that they were all undermining affordability. The report accuses the Government of a failure to treat housing as a critical so…

I second the amendment.

I welcome the chance to speak to this amendment because I missed the opportunity to oppose sections 10 and 11 on Committee Stage. As has been mentioned, the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment has gone into significant detail here. The committee discussed this with experts in the area and with the Department and produced a report which relayed its concerns about the introduction of seasonal employment permits. Sinn Féin believes there is not sufficient evidence to support the introduction of this ty…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.