I recognise Deputy O'Connell's concern in this area and her compassion for families who want to keep their pets. Their pets are now part of the family and they give some much comfort and support to people. Whether that is older people or children and their families, pets are very much part of it. That is the reason we were so anxious to ensure there was a very clear line of direction included in the housing plan sending out that message to AHBs and local authorities and putting it now into a code of practice. I do …

I thank the Deputy. The Government's youth homelessness strategy commits to developing an annual information and awareness campaign on housing rights, as well as available supports specifically targeting young people. This is essential to do, particularly online where young people, who are most impacted, are most active. The Housing Agency was tasked with developing these information campaigns, and in 2024 and 2025, it collaborated with SpunOut, Ireland’s youth information and support platform, to develop and run o…

I thank the Deputy. I became aware when I saw the retweet the night before the committee meeting. That is the first time I became aware of it. Young people are interested in how we will solve the crisis, not going down the rabbit hole of who knew when a video may have had information contained in it or whatever the case may be. I do not really understand. My focus is maximising the number of homes and maximising supply so that we can get those people who are affected by the housing crisis into homes in which they w…

This was the Housing Agency that funded SpunOut, which choose the topics itself. SpunOut does a fantastic job. An official in the housing Department retweeted it. I am not going after that official. They were well intentioned and they thought they were doing the right thing. These things happen.

Lessons have been learned.

No.

Sometimes I think the Deputy selectively listens to what I am saying. I will repeat what I said in my first answer. Video scripts related to various aspects of the campaign were flagged to my Department prior to finalising and uploading the video online for only the purposes of fact checking current policies and schemes, as would be reasonable. I said that in my opening answer. The Deputy chose not to listen to it.

If we are talking about the record, I look forward to the Deputy correcting his outrageous allegation against me earlier in breach of the House rules.

No. The Deputy named me.

I welcome the opportunity to speak about water. Water is a precious resource. It is critical to our health, our environment and our economy. Access to safe and clean drinking water for everyone is a top priority for the Government. We know it is essential. The Government's water policies are centred on what is called the EU water framework directive. This directive requires all member states to protect and to improve water quality in our rivers, lakes, groundwater and transitional coastal waters. This is done throu…

I thank the Deputies for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I am opposing the Bill because the Government's proposals far exceed what is being proposed by the Opposition. We have gone beyond what is in the Bill by bringing in the derelict property tax. The Deputy spent a long time criticising the existing regime, but the only solution he offered is to keep it in place and increase the administrative requirements relating to reporting. That is the height of it. We are getting rid of it because it is totally ineff…

I agree with Deputy Lawlor that these are a blight on our communities. There should be nowhere to hide for people who have properties they are letting go into dereliction. Not only that but there are areas, as the Deputy highlighted, where the law is overcomplicating the matter. Those areas need to be addressed one by one. It is unacceptable. It is antisocial behaviour. I am declaring a war on derelict sites. We are tackling it. The implementation of a new derelict property tax will help significantly address derel…

And she resorts to the usual when I am making my comments, by trying to shout me down. We are well used to it. For those interested in trying to tackle the issues affecting our society, I have heard many good comments from across the floor. I will take them into account as I continue to develop policies. Taking on dereliction is a fundamental part of my role as I see it. That is why we are bringing in positive elements to support people in transforming their village, town and city centres while taking on those who …

I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government's vision for water services is set out in the Water Services Policy Statement 2024 to 2030 (February 2024), which sets out three main objectives; availability and reliability, safety and quality and sustainability, along with a series of related priorities for water services delivery in the period to 2030, and beyond; — the Government's Water Sector Transformation Policy Paper (February 2021)…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 27th November, 2025. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the draft regulations and to set out the rationale and reasoning behind their development. The draft Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) Regulations 2025 have regard to the existing planning exemption for the change of use …

I thank Deputies for their support for both of the exemption regulations I have moved this evening. The first is an exemption to allow commercial properties to be converted for residential purposes and to allow that exemption to last for another three years. We will be looking to make that a permanent change because it is absolutely crucial that we revitalise our rural communities, and urban areas as well. This is a really important element of doing that, along with all the other changes we are making, such as gett…

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development (Exempted Development (Act of 2000)) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, a copy of which was laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 9th December, 2025.

I move: That Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2026, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members, pursuant to Standing Orders 103(1)( a ) and 222.

The charging order under the defective concrete blocks grant scheme for rental properties is required to help ensure remediated properties remain available to rent while remediation works have completed. The addition of a second charging order is to allow designated local authorities to ensure the charged amount matches the total funding provided to homeowners under the grant scheme. As the Bill provides for an increased grant, it may arise that the homeowners receive additional funding over and above the first cha…

Amendment No. 16 proposes to insert a new subsection that mandates the appeals panel to publish certain anonymised information to pertaining to the decisions it makes. I very much want the appeals panel focused on the decision-making process for appellants and to make those decisions as quickly as possible. Statistics around the work of the appeals panel are under review and, where appropriate, will be published in due course. The appeals panel is statutorily independent of the Department and Minister. It is a matt…