One of the key points we are concerned about is that the office of the chief deciding officer should be independent, particularly in the recruitment of staff. That is dealt with it in one of the amendments that was not allowed. The intention was to ensure the chief deciding officer would have control in regard to the recruitment of staff. Can the Minister offer any reassurance in that regard?

One of the concerns we would have - I am sure the Minister can understand why we have it - is that the office may not be sufficiently resourced. It strikes me that we need the chief deciding officer to have the power to actually indicate that he or she needs additional resources and the power to appoint those resources. We know what happens generally otherwise. I am not hearing any reassurance but, again, I want to give the Minister an opportunity to give me that reassurance if it is there.

As we have just heard, several of our amendments have been ruled out of order in this particularly important section. I want to speak again about an issue on which, regrettably, the Minister decided to take a vow of silence around 25 minutes ago. It comes up again in this section and, of course, I have every right to raise it. It is the issue of the arbitrary, inappropriate and unfair restriction of people who spent just less than six months in a residency. To be clear for those watching at home, a child resident f…

The Minister referred to the rationale behind the ruling on six months. Could he explain it to us?

I have listened carefully to what the Minister has just said, and I heard that the Minister is now saying that those who spent more than six months in an institution are more likely to have suffered. I think that is effectively what he said. I also know, and I referred to it earlier, that the Minister is a man of law. I know he is familiar with the eggshell skull rule, which means that some people can suffer as much in one day in an institution as someone who has suffered over six months. Again, I put it to the Min…

In that case, I want to come back in, because someone has to call this out. There is a horrific and unacceptable silence from the Minister here. It is completely unacceptable. I also want to speak to our colleagues in Government. I commend what Senator Seery Kearney said earlier today. She spoke out very clearly against the six-month rule. We have heard nothing from Fianna Fáil at all today. That is just not good enough. Ultimately, if you vote in favour of this Bill, you are voting to let down those survivors. Tha…

In accordance with Standing Order 62(3), I request that the vote be taken again other than by electronic means.

I want to raise two issues today, the first of which is that of family resource centres. Along with my colleague, Deputy Quinlivan, I stepped across to Buswells yesterday to meet a number of people from the Family Resource Centre National Forum, including the local one in Limerick, the Northside Family Resource Centre. We had a very good engagement on the crucial work they do. I think we are all familiar with that work. They give tremendous support to families, communities and educational schemes. It is also import…

Well said.

The Minister of State is welcome to the House. Sinn Féin fully supports this Bill. We think it is important to see it pass quickly. I commend the Minister of State on his work. The Government established the Judicial Planning Working Group to report on the number of judges required and their skillsets. This Bill, as we know, arises out of recommendations of that working group. The group reported in February 2023 with the recommendation that the number of judges be increased, along with other reforms. The Bill amend…

I wish to raise two issues. The first has been raised by a colleague of mine in County Clare, namely, Councillor Donna McEttigan. I have also been contacted by the Save Francis Street Alliance regarding a frankly unbelievable situation in which Clare County Council currently plans, having bought six cottages for €850,000, to demolish them and build a temporary car park that will last for approximately four years in the middle of the worst housing crisis in the history of the State. The issue was raised three weeks …

I must again mention the crisis in University Hospital Limerick, UHL. The figure yesterday, when there were 124 patients on trolleys, set a new record. It is shocking to think that here we are in summer and the hospital is still hitting a new record of shame with regard to patients on trolleys. As the Leader will be aware, this is an issue that a number of people, not only I, have been raising for years now. The issue continues to get worse. The figures, just in the first four months of this year, show that more th…

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I take on board the remarks of Senator Casey. It is a valid point. There is a difference between the smaller hotel chains and employers and the big chains that are really cleaning up. We know they are cleaning up because their profits are published. I failed to get a hotel room for tomorrow night, when the Bruce Springsteen concert is on. The prices being charged in this city are outrageous. I support recommendation No. 2, in particular. Senator Casey has made the…

Sinn Féin supports these recommendations. It is clear to anyone with common sense that the current rate of the vacant home tax, at 0.3%, is not adequate. Members of the Minister of State's own party have acknowledged as much to me off the record. In the middle of a housing crisis it is unforgivable. We fully support the recommendation on including derelict sites in an effective levy. This is something the Government should act on.

I will withdraw it with the right to resubmit on Report Stage.

I move recommendation No. 5: In page 8, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “ Report on including derelict properties within scope of the Vacant Homes Tax 7. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the Vacant Homes Tax, including an assessment of potential revenue raised and potential positive impacts on housing supply of including derelict properties within its scope, and an assessment of the potential benefits of this in …

I move recommendation No. 6: In page 8, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “ Report on variable rate of Vacant Homes Tax linked to property price inflation 7. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on options for applying a variable rate of Vacant Homes Tax, which varies annually and is linked to annual residential property price inflation data as recorded by the Residential Tenancies Board, with particular assessment of the…

I move recommendation No. 7: In page 9, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “ Report on data centres’ participation in the TBESS 8. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on all companies registered for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme with either a trade description or economic activity relating to data processing, hosting or related activities, and the amounts they received under the Scheme.”. Recommendation N…

I move recommendation No. 10: In page 9, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “ Report on extension of TBESS eligibility to charitable organisations 8. The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on options for extending eligibility for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme to charitable or non-profit organisations which do not carry on a trade which is chargeable to tax, including through the use of refundable tax credits…

Well said.