Our nation's attention is currently focused on violence against women due to the horrific murder of Ashling Murphy. I know that all our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. Sadly, however, this is only the most recent violent attack against a woman to horrify our nation. We have a long and shameful history regarding the treatment of women and girls in this State. We must be under no illusion that this history has had an impact on the deeply ingrained misogynistic abuse directed towards women. We see it in t…

We all know that the State is in the grips of a housing emergency. There are policies that could change the dynamic and provide solutions to the housing needs our people face. The Government's Housing for All plan chose to kick the can of the vacant property tax down the road for yet another year. Will the Minister confirm a date for the introduction of a vacant homes tax?

We need this urgently. Since 2016, Sinn Féin has called for the introduction of a vacant homes tax as another lever to increase supply, end the scourge of dereliction and put vacant homes back into use. In June 2017, my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, called on the Government to introduce a vacant property tax in budget 2018, a budget that was negotiated between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. That was four years ago. No vacant homes tax has been introduced in any year since. The Government published its Housing for All plan…

In a note to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage in September, the Department of Finance cited analysis on vacant dwellings by GeoDirectory. In its quarter 2 report for 2021, GeoDirectory found that more than 92,000 homes, or 4.5% of the housing stock, lay vacant in June this year. Recent research suggests we have the tenth highest vacancy rate in the world. It is a national scandal. Why has the Government not introduced a vacant property tax in each of the past five years? Will the Minist…

The Minister of State just said that the funds pay tax as well but they do not. They pay no corporation tax or capital gains tax. I have a quote from the Minister of State from an RTÉ Radio 1 interview he did earlier this year. He said that on any profits being made there is a tax of 20% or 25% depending on the structure and that any profits they make are taxed at a higher rate: "double the rate of corporation tax" as the Minister of State put it. We have looked at the figures and the Minister of State’s statement …

Gabhaim buíochas leat, a Cheann Comhairle, agus guím Nollaig shona ar fhoireann Theach Laighean agus tá súil agam go mbeidh Nollaig álainn acu ar fad. A Thánaiste, the Women of Honour group has set out its view that a review, as proposed by the Government, does not go far enough. It is clearly inadequate for an internal review to be held with no power to compel witnesses or apportion blame. If these serious allegations are to be addressed and learned from, Women of Honour wants to see a robust and independent inves…

I will speak to the three recommendations and I will keep it brief so that there will be lots of time for others. Recommendations Nos. 1 and 2 provide for the extension of the existing rates of the EWSS until the end of January 2022 in response to public health restrictions which will impact the footfall in and revenue of businesses in certain sectors in the coming months. The hospitality sector is especially impacted. This extension is a common-sense measure and one that Sinn Féin called for on 30 November. The Go…

I wish the raise the case of Julian Assange again. Last Friday, it took just nine minutes for the British magistrates to uphold an American appeal against a district court judge's ruling that Julian Assange should not be extradited. That judge had accepted in January that hell on earth was what awaited Julian Assange and that extradition would mean he would likely take his own life. On hearing the news that this ruling had been overturned, Julian Assange had a stroke, such is the stress and mental anguish his extra…

There is a scenario which has become far too prevalent. Let us imagine a context where a landlord has issued a notice to quit. Anxiety would set in as the people concerned desperately search for somewhere to live. It may prove impossible, however, to find anywhere affordable. The housing assistance payment, HAP, may not be sufficient to cover the rent of any of those places which are available. The clock will tick down for people in that situation and soon enough they will find themselves homeless. People in such a…

I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” Táim chun mo chuid ama a roinnt le mo chomhghleacaithe. I am delighted to speak alongside my colleague, Deputy Patricia Ryan, on the Second Stage debate of our Bill. I might say a few words on what motivated us to table it, why it is necessary and how it will improve the regulation of tender bids for capital works. We are firmly of the opinion that, if enacted, it will improve value for money for the taxpayer when it comes to large capital projects. It is no secret…

I am fed up of coming in here and being told the Government wants to work with the Opposition but the Opposition and Sinn Féin do not give the Government any ideas and do not do anything. Every time I come in here with any kind of a Bill, all I hear from Government is that it will kick the can down the road for nine months, it will not engage on it, it disagrees, it will not bring the Bill to Committee Stage, it will not have the discussion or look at it. It does my head in. We put work into these things. We look a…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and to provide for related matters. I am delighted to be introducing this Bill with my colleague Deputy Buckley. I will first say a few words on what motivated us to craft this Bill. In 2014, this State introduced the Protected Disclosures Act. This was badly needed in a State such as this, where transparency and accountability are words that are regularly invoked but seldom made a reality. Often, when peop…

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Unfortunately I was not in attendance at the discussion on this Bill on Tuesday. Although I wanted to be here, I was not able to attend. I welcome this discussion, which goes to the heart of everything we do and to the heart of fairness and equity. I want to agree with something that Deputy Nash said. I would imagine that most Deputies in this Chamber are in agreement with this amendment and agree that secretarial assistants are facing difficulties with regard to their pay. A lot of what has been said already deals…

It is good to hear that the Government party TDs have also been strong on the case and that the Minister understands where we are coming from. I agree with Deputy Pringle. It is great that we are having this discussion and I am not suggesting that anyone would purposely forget it but I am concerned that it could slip off the radar in time. That is why I think this kind of report would be of benefit and it keeps it on the agenda which is very important. I am worried that we will be here this time next year and remem…

I commend Deputy Boyd Barrett on consistently raising this issue, highlighting it, putting it on the agenda and making me aware of it. It is clear from the concerns that have been raised consistently and that we have heard in this Chamber and in committees that this is an area of concern. Given that companies are supported by this relief, and in light of the grave concerns that have been highlighted time and time again, it would only be of benefit to us to have a report done. From the grave concerns we have consist…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 94, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following: “Report on restricting banks from carrying forward losses 37. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on restricting the banks from carrying forward losses against taxable profits in a manner which could result in many institutions paying no corporation tax for the foreseeable future by introducing a 25 per cent cap on profit that can be written off by carried…

I am aware of the technical report but, as the Minister said, this was completed a number of years ago. We have to be cognisant of the degree and extent to which the banking market has changed. We can all say that in the past number of years much has changed in general, not just within the banking market. We had quite an interesting discussion yesterday in Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach with KBC representatives. AIB and Bank of Ireland have strengthened their position and t…

I acknowledge that the Minister has a different point of view from my colleagues and I on this. A limit should be placed on the losses that banks carry forward to reduce their tax liabilities and this report should be done as it would be of benefit to us all. It would be important to compile this report.

It is.