I thank the Taoiseach for outlining the developments at the meeting of the European political community on 6 October. We know the meeting this week of European leaders, on 20 and 21 October, comes at a pivotal moment in the plans for tackling the energy emergency and cost-of-living crisis, as well as the ongoing response of Europe to Russia's brutal war against the people of Ukraine. What matters most to people, however, is the tangible proposals that emerge from the Council meeting and whether they will be impleme…

We welcome the Government's U-turn on the winter eviction ban and the announcement earlier. It represents a real change since Thursday when I questioned the Tánaiste on it then. His response was rather lukewarm on the prospect of a temporary eviction ban. We welcome it but we have to remember that for nearly 11,000 individuals and 3,220 children who are homeless and without a secure home that ban will come too late. These figures will only continue to grow after the eviction ban has concluded unless the core proble…

It is welcome to hear more detail of the proposed Bill. We will work with the Government, as will all in the Opposition, to ensure it is passed as soon as possible to see protections for those renting through the winter. Will the Taoiseach also commit to introducing stronger legislative backing for the tenant in situ scheme? The problems are the red tape, the inconsistency and the fact that last year the State spent €893 million on subsidies to private landlords, such as the HAP. This is money that could have been …

I did not say that.

We are putting forward sensible proposals.

Let us strengthen the tenant in situ scheme.

I wish to raise the plight of householders in the Carrickmines multi-unit development in south County Dublin. As we know, after the financial crash the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, took over the estate and became the developer through its appointed receiver. A range of defects became apparent in the development and while some remedial works were carried out, in 2017 the owners' management company, OMC, had a review carried out and there are still quite a number of identified issues and defects remaining.…

Earlier today, I raised with the Taoiseach the plight of owners in the Carrickmines Green development. Returning to that subject, when is it planned to introduce the redress scheme for homeowners? I think the Taoiseach said it would be done before Christmas. Does this mean that we will not see provision being made for such a scheme in the Finance Bill, which is to be introduced on Thursday? He might clarify that. He might also clarify whether the scheme will include provision for retrospective tax relief on works a…

Last week, the Dáil debated the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022. It is welcome that it will be amended to provide for domestic violence leave, but the Labour Party is asking that it also be amended to provide for reproductive health-related leave. We introduced a Bill in the Seanad last year which would provide for paid leave of up to 20 days for women who suffer an early miscarriage and for up to ten days for those employees who need time off work to access treatments such as IVF. The Gove…

It is welcome to hear the Taoiseach had constructive meetings yesterday. At the recent Ireland's Future event, in which I was glad to participate, concern was expressed by all present about the vacuum in Northern Irish politics with the continued failure of restoration of the institutions of the Executive and the assembly and the looming deadline of 28 October set by the British Government. Will the Taoiseach update the House further on whether the Irish Government has taken a position on this looming deadline? Doe…

Labour welcomes this motion and I commend Deputy O’Rourke and his colleagues on bringing it forward. The principle is irrefutable: no one should be left unable to heat their home or run their fridge or other appliances because they cannot afford to pay. If there is consensus on that matter as we enter into this bleak winter ahead, then the Government has the task of examining every mechanism available to it to fulfil its responsibility to struggling households and families. The Government has to intervene in the ma…

The key message for today is we need a winter eviction ban. We have seen it in the report from Threshold launched today, which was unequivocal. It outlined that the most pressing issue facing those renting in the private sector in Ireland is the termination of their tenancy. The fear of termination of tenancy, of eviction, is the biggest fear confronting renters. With over 10,000 people on the homeless list we know just how serious that fear is. Of course, the second fear of renters is of rent increases. Rents have…

We have certainly been pushing for a wider response. I ask that the Government take up the renters' rights Bill we put forward this time last year because it addresses broader issues around security of tenure and the quality of living conditions for renters. We were glad the Government did not oppose the Bill at that time but we would like to see further progress made on it. It is useful and welcome to hear the Government is also considering the introduction of a winter eviction ban. It is an urgently needed measur…

Two weeks ago I asked the Taoiseach to examine taking the Corrib gas field into State ownership. He indicated that it was not the Government's intention to do so. I again emphasise that the Government has powers to do so, powers which have already been used previously by Fianna Fáil, under the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Acts of 1971 and 1982. As we see a growing energy security and energy cost crisis this winter and in view of the fact that revenues from Corrib increased almost fourfold last year, why will the Gov…

When will we see it?

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on our Labour Party motion and to second it. Our motion seeks to secure better pay and conditions for those employed in the community, voluntary and care sector, such as section 39, section 56 and section 10 workers. These are thousands of workers who work for independent, non-State agencies to provide vital support services in the community and voluntary sector. I pay tribute to my colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith, our party's health spokesperson, who has proposed the motio…

I wish to express the support of the Labour Party for the amendment because it seeks to look into the way in which future schemes could be directed in a targeted manner, a point that we, and Deputy Nash in particular, have been making. We need to ensure credits will not be implemented in such a way as to create an inflationary effect and they should be targeted at those who most need them; that is, the most vulnerable and those who are most likely to fall into fuel poverty. We made that point on a number of occasio…

I move amendment No. 6: In page 5, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “Final customer not occupier 3. (1) Where, in respect of a domestic electricity account, a person other than the final customer is liable to make payments to the final customer in respect of sums due under that account, the final customer shall ensure that the benefit of an electricity costs emergency benefit payment is transferred to and received by that other person. (2) In a case where the persons referred to in subsection (1) a…

I am glad to hear the matter is being kept under review and it is welcome that there will be a public information campaign specifically for renters. It may be that this will only apply to a small proportion of those for whom the credit is not being passed on to the person who is effectively paying the bill. The amendment is designed to address that scenario, even if it only applies to a relatively small number. We are concerned to ensure the credit is passed on in all cases and that is a valid concern. Anecdotally,…

I wish to express my deepest sympathies and those of us all in the Labour Party on the terrible, tragic and shocking news from Creeslough last Friday. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families and friends of all the ten people who lost their lives so tragically, as well as with their broader community in Donegal. We pay tribute to the bravery and courage of the emergency services and all who helped in the rescue effort. We are all heartbroken at the loss of life caused by this awful tragedy. We honour the n…