I thank the Minister of State for his very considered response. I acknowledge and am thankful an official amendment has not been tabled to delay the legislation by 12 months and that the relationship is built on trust on the basis of the way we have collaborated to date on it. I and my Civil Engagement colleagues have no interest in ever rushing legislation through that would be voted down at some stage unnecessarily when we can engage with each other with live legislation that can be brought back to the House at a…

It is that type of language I do not accept. We have introduced legislation, which is fair and well thought out, and can act as an incentive and tool for our accountancy firms. If we are first out of the traps on developing the way we report emissions, that is a skills set and a resource for the rest of Europe that will support us in introducing reporting. Our companies can export that level of skills and the building of the system and framework, which will be required to report emissions. We ensured the requiremen…

Next Tuesday.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 4, line 23, after “other” to insert “higher”.

This amendment seeks to stipulate that when the Minister designates an amount of large-scale residential development, LRD, floor space which must be used for housing, the figure may only be higher than the 70% figure in this Bill. It is important that when we speak about LRD planning permission it is used primarily to deliver housing and not for commercial interests. I have further amendments in respect of this which I will speak to regarding what the remaining 30% of land should be used for to foster sustainable c…

I will press the amendment.

I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, line 25, after “development” to insert the following: “with regard to the LRD floor space not used for the purposes of housing, a public consultation shall take place with individuals and community groups which the planning authority shall have due regard to in determinations of the granting of permissions for such floor space”.

This amendment relates to public participation in the shaping of the new residential areas which will be built using LRD planning and permission. With regard to LRD floor space not used for the purposes of housing, the amendment provides that there would be a public consultation for individuals and community groups to which the planning authority would have regard in the granting of permissions for that space. The Government has spoken a lot about this legislation and new processes in the delivery of housing but it…

I move amendment No. 3: In page 4, line 36, to delete “academic term times” and substitute “the academic year” This amendment, which was raised with the Minister by my colleague, Senator Higgins, on Committee Stage, seeks to change the period in which student accommodation can be used for purposes other than housing for students, from outside of the academic term time to outside the academic year. This is to address concerns that at Christmas, students who are revising for exams and students who may have to remain …

I move amendment No. 4: In page 6, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(ea) details of the manner in which obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, with due regard to the principle of universal design and regulations under Statutory Instrument Number 513 of 2010, have been reflected in the proposed development;”. On Committee Stage similar amendments to this were proposed to be included in information that the Minister may prescribe as a requirement fo…

I move amendment No. 5: In page 6, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(ea) a calculation of the expected greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from embodied energy, expected through construction or demolition in the proposed development;”.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “(ea) details of the manner in which the local development plan or county development plan of the local authority in which the site is located is reflected in the proposed development;”.

My amendment in this grouping would stipulate that the developer must provide details of how the local or county development plans have been reflected in their proposed development ahead of the LRD meeting. It is welcome that we are returning to the two-stage planning process but we must ensure that the voices of local government and local communities are enhanced in the planning process.

Amendment No. 9 relates to the proposed development of student accommodation. When such development is proposed through the LRD process, there should be consultation with "community groups, residents' groups from the affected areas, member groups of public participation networks, student unions, groups with relevant heritage or environmental expertise".

I move amendment No. 9: In page 6, after line 41, to insert the following: “(4A) Consultations referred to in subsection (4) may include, but is not limited to, community groups, residents’ groups from the affected areas, member groups of public participation networks, student unions, groups with relevant heritage or environmental expertise.”.

Senator Warfield will deal with the rest of our amendments on our behalf. We emailed the Seanad Office to that effect.

I move amendment No. 29: In page 17, after line 42, to insert the following: "Report on operation of Act 18. The Minister shall, within 30 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage outlining— (a) the proportion of sites, expressed as a percentage, which have been granted LRD planning permission where construction has not commenced, (b) the proportion of sites, expressed numerically and as a percentage, which have been granted LRD …

Lots of legislation contains review clauses in it or calls for reports to either both Houses or the relevant committee. I do not really understand why it is not workable. Is it the timeframe? Is it the 30 months? Is there an alternative way that we can ensure we can report to both Houses on this information just in a different way?

I thank the Minister for being here today. I will preface my contribution by saying that although we need to focus on aftercare provision and foster care, we must not lose sight of the reasons people end up in care in the first place and we should always focus on prevention as well as the aftermath of children who have been in care. Senator Seery Kearney hit the nail on the head in what she said. If we are going to judge and make assessments of how people parent or what they can or cannot give their children, we wa…

That is something that has always rung true for me. I have been involved in many cases of advocacy as a community worker, including working with women who had addiction issues, where we sat down and looked at care plans. Tusla’s intervention at the time would have been very heavily focused on a parenting course. In those situations it was not that the mother needed a parenting course. It was very much that she was living beyond her means due to the conditions she had, her environment and having perhaps experienced …