It is great to see the number of gigs and concerts that are taking place all over our country, the length and breadth of Ireland. There are concerts happening again which are bringing great joy to those who are attending and to the musicians. This issue was raised with me last week by Deputy Cannon. To the best of my knowledge, we are unable to differentiate in VAT law for the musicians, which the Deputy raised. I committed to Deputy Cannon that I would follow up and check on this issue and I will.

No.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Isle of Man) Order 2022, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 24th June, 2022.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Guernsey) Order 2022, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 24th June, 2022.

I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December 2022: Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications ( Supplementary Estimate )

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 187, it be an instruction to the Dáil in Committee on the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Bill 2022 that it has power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill, in order to provide for a free contraception scheme for women aged 17-25 who are ordinarily resident in the State; the proposed amendments will seek to amend the Health Act 1970, with consequential amendments to the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical…

I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this resolution for the amendment of the Immigration Act 2004 to provide for the charging in accordance with that Act of certain fees, being fees for the issue to non-nationals of registration certificates.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders— (a) Questions to be answered on the second occasion in the summer recess pursuant to Standing Order 52 shall reach the Clerk not later than 11 a.m. on Monday, 5th September, 2022; and (b) the first oral Parliamentary Questions taken on the resumption of the Dáil following the summer recess pursuant to Standing Order 46(1) shall be questions to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, whereupon the sequence established by the Order of 30th July, 202…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions on a matter I know is very important for our country. It is a challenge affecting homes and households in every community in our country this evening. It is in recognition of this that the Government has acted. It is in understanding the challenges many are facing that we have made so many changes already. I want to list what they are because it is very important to remind the House of the scale of the measures that have been implemented. In addition to the measures brou…

But the Deputy wants me to cut taxes even more.

The scale of the fine that has been imposed by the Central Bank on these two banks shows the strength of our regulatory system and how seriously the unacceptable behaviour in respect of tracker mortgages is being taken by the Central Bank and the State. The legislation Deputy Doherty is referring to has taken some time to draft. It required pre-legislative scrutiny as was correct, and required much work by the Attorney General and my Department. I will be bringing the final proposals to Cabinet next week and the le…

I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this matter. As he will be aware, in 2008, the price of oil was at a very low point because of the impact of the global financial crisis and other factors that meant the price was at a very low level. The House will be aware the Government has done an awful lot to reduce the price of fuel, and the excise reduction we put in place of 15 cent and 20 cent is the biggest excise rate reduction we have done in our modern economic history. What I will do, given the point the Deputy has …

I acknowledge that Deputy Devlin has raised this issue with me on a number of occasions. He is raising an important matter regarding how consumers can be protected as they take out loans that could stretch across the duration of their life, given the cost can be uncertain and can grow. I recognise the very legitimate point he is raising. He is also correct that the Central Bank regulates them. When I requested the information in regard to the number of such loans, I was informed it is not published. Given the Deput…

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 187, it be an instruction to the Select Committee on Transport and Communications, on the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, that the Committee has the power to make amendments to the Bill which are outside the scope of the existing provisions of the Bill, in order to provide for support and promotion for zero to low emission vehicles; CCTV/cameras used by TII and local authorities; revocation of licences; and technical amendments to provide for the effect and validity of cer…

This Government has always accepted that meeting the housing needs of our society is a critical challenge that we must rise to, not just for our society but for the families, households and tenants who are all affected by the challenge of not enough homes being available to buy and rents not being affordable. We accept this is a challenge to which we must rise and make progress on. It is not just our language that will make a difference, but our efforts. The efforts are showing clear signs of supply improving. It i…

I meet those people-----

-----in the constituency I have the privilege of representing in this House, in my clinics and in the many engagements I have with those who are dealing with this challenge the Government knows is so real.

This Government is building social and affordable housing all over the country through the local authorities. That is a reality that is now being delivered. New homes are being built through Dublin City Council and other local authorities the length and breadth of the country to respond to the need that is there. It is the case that Deputy Doherty wants far more being built but he is against every measure that will deliver the homes for the communities he is making the case for. For example, the Land Development Ag…

That is vital over time to bringing rents and prices down.

I thank Deputy Bacik for raising those two matters. On the negotiations that are under way on public pay, it is precisely because the Government recognises and values so much the contribution that nurses, doctors, teachers and civil servants make to society and the economy that these public pay discussions are under way. We believe an agreement on the future of public pay for the country is a just and needed recognition of the efforts of those who play such an important role, particularly during the pandemic. On th…