I move amendment No. 9: In page 11, after line 34, to the following: “Report on income tax relief 11. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on an income tax relief equivalent in value to 8.3 per cent of annual rent to all private rental tenants not already in receipt of any State subsidy, examining the social and economic impact of this measure in the context of high levels of rent.”. We know that rents are extortionate and unsustainable for s…

I think this would be an extremely effective way of putting money back into renters' pockets. We have a huge issue, in particular in our cities, of sky-high rents, and I do not see the measures the Government has introduced having a significant effect on those people who come to my weekly clinics telling me they cannot afford their rents and asking me what they can avail of and what can be done. I say to them there is nothing out there to help them when they are struggling and trying to pay their rent month after m…

Of course I want to see houses being built. I want to see public housing and affordable houses being built. I want to see an affordable housing plan. As I stated earlier to the Minister, there was a ten-year period during which not one social house was built in Galway city. That is the reality with which we are dealing. The fact of the matter is that a significant number of people are renting because of bad housing policy decisions by Government after Government. That is the reality. We do want to see a big housing…

I commend my colleagues, Deputies Louise O'Reilly and Claire Keranne, on bringing forward this important motion. Throughout people's working lives, they knew the pension age always to be 65 years. More than that, people were mentally geared up to retire at 65. The social contract which the State had with its citizens was broken by the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government when it brought into law increases in the pension age to 66 in 2014, to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. It was a cruel twist of the knife in the backs…

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Tá mé an-sásta an Bille seo a chur os comhair na Dála. Tá an Bille fíorthábhachtach don trédhearcacht agus chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an Dáil ag obair ar son na ndaoine. I am delighted to move what is my first Bill in the Dáil alongside my colleague, Deputy Doherty. The topic of public standards goes to the heart of a well-functioning democratic system. The corollary of this is that poor public standards lead to a poorly functioning democratic system. Recent months …

Cuirim fáilte roimh an bplé a rinneamar ar an mBille anocht. Tá sé go maith le feiceáil nach bhfuil aon pháirtí i gcoinne na leasuithe seo ach is mór an trua é nach bhfuil an Rialtas sásta an Bille seo a chur i bhfeidhm láithreach. I welcome this debate and the fact that not one Member of the Oireachtas has opposed this. I am delighted that we have drafted legislation that goes across the political divide, with representatives agreeing that these changes must take place. I am also glad that this Bill will go to Com…

I would like to say to Deputy Richmond that that absolutely came from a Fine Gael Government. Have former Fine Gael Ministers been benefiting from loopholes in that Act ever since?

Is that correct or not? That is absolutely correct. I want to go back to tonight's Bill. This should not be delayed any further. We saw a review in 2016 and we saw the SIPO recommendations. There was a review in 2019 and there were SIPO recommendations, but nothing was done. Fine Gael ignored it in 2016 and again in 2019. In February this year, Fine Gael again ignored it. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published its review, which called for more education and guidance as, apparently, there was no c…

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for amendments to the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, to extend the definition of persons to which the Act applies, to allow the Commission to provide directions on communication, to provide that the Code of Conduct be laid before the Oireachtas; to provide the Commission with further powers to investigate and report on breaches of the Code of Conduct; to extend the cooling-off period to two years, to extend the scope of section 22 of the…

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

The PSSA, the current public sector pay deal, is due to run out at the end of this year. I have raised concerns with the Minister previously about what appears to be a lack of progress on a new deal. This must be prioritised by the Minister and the Government. Will the Minister advise what the status of these negotiations is, the date on which formal negotiations took place and the expected date of their completion?

I completely agree with the Minister. It is extremely important for both sides that we have a deal of this nature because it will provide stability in the delivery of public services in the first instance. Of equal importance is that it will provide a level of justice for workers. Public sector workers have been a significant part of the front-line workforce during this pandemic, as we have often mentioned in this Chamber, and they cannot be left behind. They deserve to have economic security and to know their jobs…

I hear the Minister referring to "an economic reality" but the State is the employer in this instance and it is important that it gives some security to these workers. I would also be concerned if a deal is reached at the eleventh hour because we know that such a deal needs to be debated and voted on by all the public sector workers across this State. This is a lengthy process in normal times and it is an even more difficult process in these times. I am wary that we will have a scenario where a deal is done at the …

As Deputy Nash mentioned, there were reports recently that the Minister is planning on working on legislation relevant to this situation, and that he is planning on having fines and criminal sanctions for Ministers and Deputies who would breach this legislation and become lobbyists shortly after leaving political life. What other measures are being considered in respect of amendments to the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015?

The Minister will be aware that his predecessor conducted two reviews in respect of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 and found that no changes needed to be made, despite SIPO raising 22 amendments in 2016 and 2019. SIPO clearly stated earlier this year that it was deeply disappointed by this and that it needs greater enforcement powers. I welcome that the Minister mentioned these powers. Realistically, in this year this matter really has come to a head. Public confidence is at an all-time low. We need to very cl…

As I mentioned, since I have been elected - but I am not saying that the two things coincide - we have seen public confidence damaged by the events surrounding golfgate, the case of a former Minister and the recent leaking of a confidential document. All of these instances have had a real impact on public confidence in politics. I am glad to hear that the Minister is genuinely concerned about the weaknesses in our lobbying legislation. My colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty, and I will also bring forward a Bill which …

The Aire recently launched the Review to Renew consultation on the national development plan, NDP. I understand that this will incorporate an independent peer review at two key points in the life of a contract worth over €10 million, to ensure successful tender bids are coming in on cost. As cost overruns have been something of a problem in large public procurement contracts, can the Minister please advise what measures will be taken as part of this independent peer review to ensure contracts come in on cost?

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. That is interesting. Getting value for money is very important in the area of public procurement. We often hear talk of the supposed cost efficiencies of the market relative to the public sector, yet many of the large cost overruns come from large public procurement capital projects. The national children's hospital is a noteworthy example but 35 out of 38 health and education projects nationwide ran over the agreed contract price, which is an issue the Minister raised during his time…

Again, that is interesting and I would like to get more information on it so perhaps the Minister can send that on to me. How will the independent peer review process itself, and the Government's interaction with it, be decided? As the Minister has stated it could involve people from different countries and so on, how will the make-up of the independent peer review be decided? Where will the reports from the review process be sent or made available? Will they be sent to the chief procurement officer and if so, will…

I know the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, is aware of the flooding in Clifden at the beginning of September and the very serious impact it has had on the people of Clifden. I am seeking a statement on the plans for a flood defence programme in Clifden.