I thank the Acting Chairperson.

Do not-----

-----try to dig the same or a different hole now.

Every Senator is entitled to have exactly what they said stand.

Every Senator is entitled to have what they stated on the record to be shown accurately there.

I can see the thrust of what Senator Moynihan is proposing. I am more minded towards respecting county boundaries apart from where a particular urban area is bordered by another county and people in that area look towards the urban area. This could be captured in a boundary. I am not as concerned about the removal of three-seat constituencies as I am about the addition of six-seat constituencies. By introducing six-seat constituencies the Senator would tear up every boundary we have had in the country with regard t…

I move: That the Bill be recommitted in respect of amendments Nos. 3, 4, 9 and 10.

This is a welcome amendment on the notice periods for tenants. There are significant increases in the notice period protections for tenants: from less than six months up to 90 days; not less than six months but less than a year up to 152 days; not less than one year but less than seven years up to 180 days; not less than seven years but less than eight years up to 196 days; and not less than eight years up to 224 days. These are significant increases in the notice periods and given the climate we are in and the fac…

I will not get into a big back and forth debate with Senator Warfield but I must make some important points in response to what he has outlined, particularly on banning rent increases. We all want lower rents and that is why the Government is introducing cost rental and why we have moved to a situation where we have indexed rent increases to the consumer price index, or 2%, whichever is less. We have to point out that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. We do not have to look too far to German…

Now.

Now.

I welcome the announcement that Cabinet made yesterday about increasing the income disregard for students, so that they can earn additional moneys outside of term time without it affecting their student grant. This has now been increased from €4,500 to €6,552 as a result of the decision by the Cabinet. I raised this issue with the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party several weeks ago. Students and businesses on the ground in Waterford raised this issue with me. It is a perfect example of the Government taking immediate a…

I have been thinking about what the Senator has suggested on all of the points and I keep arriving back at the same point. If I am applying for something adjacent to a site that requires substitute consent – let us say I want to build a house - why in my right mind would I attach an application for a genuine development to something so toxic that it requires substitute consent? I would not do that. One would not attach a proper clean development to something that requires substitute consent and is viewed as being s…

It is not an issue.

Next Tuesday.

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House for the Second Stage debate on this Bill. This is one of the most exciting and reforming Bills we have had before the House in some time. It is an extensive body of work. I thank the officials who have worked extensively on the legislation. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage which, as the Minister of State said, engaged in a significant body of pre-legislative scrutiny on the Bill. We had witnesses from academia…

That is a great shame because any political party that receives State funding should certainly have the general secretary-----

If I could continue.

I thank the Acting Chairperson. The point I was trying to make is very important and valid. Political parties that receive State funding should certainly co-operate with an Oireachtas joint committee. It certainly was not just one party in the singular. A number of parties did not send their general secretaries to the committee for engagement on what I believe is significant legislation. With regard to the substance of the Bill, it is a very important and a welcome move that we will introduce a statutory electoral …

I will not interrupt the Senator either. He need not worry.