I thank the Minister of State for bringing this important legislation before us. It is relatively straightforward in what it is seeking to achieve. It seeks to separate Irish Water from Ervia and to establish it as its own stand-alone utility, Uisce Éireann. Despite it being a relatively straight-forward piece of legislation it is obviously lengthy given the amount of transfers involved in the process. In regard to the pre-legislative scrutiny which was carried out by the Oireachtas joint committee, I thank the mem…

Next Tuesday.

I join with colleagues in conveying my deepest sympathy to the family of the late Vicky Phelan. I refer to the expansion of the Croí Cónaithe towns scheme which has been announced by the Government in recent hours. It is very welcome news that this excellent scheme, which focuses on rural one-off properties and properties in our city centres, is to be expanded. The scheme provides a grant of €30,000 to renovate a property which has been vacant for two years. A top-up grant of €20,000 is available where structural w…

I support the Order of Business as outlined. I would take this opportunity to talk about a positive decision that has just been made by Cabinet in the last while about the north quays in Waterford city. This is a project that many people have been involved in over the last six or seven years and there have been many false dawns along the way. This morning, Cabinet approved over €170 million for the public infrastructure elements of the project, which consist of the sustainable transport bridge over the River Suir, …

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is appropriate we are having statements on Housing for All at this juncture. I always welcome the opportunity to talk about the progress that has been made with the Housing for All plan, which is building on the strong foundations which were laid in previous years. The plan is working, despite what some say. Is it happening quick enough? Of course not, and of course everyone in the Government would like to see the delivery of more homes more quickly. There are constr…

I thank the Minister of State for being with us, and his colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, for the speedy passage of this legislation through both Houses of the Oireachtas this week. This emergency Bill seeks to defer the termination dates of certain residential tenancies that fall or would fall during the period beginning on the day after the enactment of the Bill and ending on 31 March next year. Its aim is to reduce the level of homelessness that wil…

I did not interrupt anyone.

I did not interrupt anyone. It is important to say that what I am saying is not my view, but what was stated at the joint Oireachtas committee and I made the preface of that remark in my speech. I would appreciate if I was not interrupted. The Senator should go back to the transcript from the joint Oireachtas committee and read what was said. These are all factors that impact on the supply of rental properties. I have concerns, notwithstanding the intent of this legislation, that these measures could have a negativ…

I thank the Cathaoirleach. The Department must put in quick underwritten finance to local authorities to allow them to actively pursue the acquisition of properties. The local authorities in Cork and Galway mentioned that they have more than 50 and 36 interested applications. If every local authority acquired 50 properties where notices to quit are in place between now and the end of March then we would go a long way towards resolving some of the issues in this space. We must also ramp up delivery through schemes s…

The Irish Property Owners Association, IPOA, and the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, IPAV, have done so.

On a point of order, please.

The Senator can go back to the comments that I made. I specifically referenced a meeting by the Oireachtas joint committee with the IPOA and IPAV. I wish to clarify that I did not make these comments but the comments were made by both representative organisations. The Senator can paint this in whatever way he wishes but that is not what was said.

To clarify, does this grouping consist of amendments Nos. 6 to 12, inclusive?

I assume amendment No. 5 has been ruled out of order because the latter part of Senator Moynihan's amendment relates to a dispute on the value of the property being referred to the board, rather than to the substance of the original point raised during our Second Stage speeches. Can the Minister of State confirm that some mechanism will be put in place so that the RTB can notify the local authority when a termination notice is being issued to a HAP tenant? That is important and the closing of that circle has to be …

On amendments Nos. 7 and 12, relating to the non-payment of rent as a ground for a termination notice, we are enabling that to continue given that, on the other side of every tenancy, there is a landlord who has obligations to his or her bank in regard to paying back loans. It is important to point out in this space that this was another item raised at our Oireachtas joint committee by the IPOA and the IPAV in respect of the process that applies where a tenant fails to pay rent, as the Minister of State outlined. T…

Shouting is not the way.

On a point of order, I believe it is unhelpful to refer to Members of the House as liars.

It is unhelpful.

It is unhelpful, Chair, to refer to Members as liars in the House.

Further to Senator Moynihan’s comments on HAP tenants in situ , we have a window of opportunity in that space. To be clear, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has instructed local authorities to purchase properties where there are HAP tenants in situ . In fact, at a meeting of the joint committee yesterday, Cork City Council said it has 50 such applications under consideration and Galway City Council indicated that it has 36. If we multiplied that out across our local authorities and if we can …