That is why we are in the mess we are in at the minute. I want to talk about Limerick, where rents have increased to more than €1,200 for a two-bedroom apartment. There has been double-digit growth in rents. Let us be very clear; this Bill will allow rent increases to commence once again. We in Sinn Féin do not believe rents should be increased right now. I actually believe that if a landlord is getting more than €1,200 for a two-bedroom apartment on the Dock Road in Limerick, that is plenty. Surely to God, before …

That number was not even half what was needed.

It is nice to see the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach in the Chair. The Minister of State is very welcome. I will have to start by responding to my colleague, Senator D’Arcy. There is no problem with back-and-forth with the Senator but I ask him to try at least to be factual. There are many aspects of this Bill that we are on record as supporting. To characterise us-----

I will explain that, because I agree with her. The Senator however, needs to stick to his facts. To say that we rejected every aspect of this Bill, which he did-----

You did.

You did and you were very clear. I know that it has been a bad week for Fine Gael and indeed Fianna Fáil.

I am saying that it has been a bad week for Fine Gael.

I know that the Cathaoirleach will give me some extra time, for which I thank him. On this Bill, we welcome the warehousing of tax liabilities, the reduction of interest rates applying to tax debt, and corporate tax loss relief in these circumstances, but I will highlight a few concerns we have around the Bill. The temporary VAT rate reduction from 23% to 21% is of course supported by us. More needs to be done. Echoing some of the comments of Senator Casey, the issue of a VAT reduction for hospitality and tourism s…

I move recommendation No. 3: In page 14, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(22) The Minister may make an order under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (21) that pertains to a certain class or sector of business of employers.”. I am a little disappointed that the previous recommendations were ruled out of order because it is common sense to extend the existing temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme when so many businesses are in trouble. While we welcome the new scheme, the lower rate of subs…

I wish to put on the record that we are proposing a recommendation to allow the Minister to alter either the rates of the subsidies paid to employers in respect of certain classes of employees or the reduction in turnover necessary for an employer of a certain class of businesses, such as those in the hospitality or tourism sectors, to qualify. We know that businesses are really on the point of having to close. It does not make sense not to build in the option of flexibility. I imagine that many businesses, particu…

I put on record Sinn Féin's support for this recommendation. It is a pity that whenever the issue of collective bargaining comes up all we ever hear from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is "Well, yes, but now is not the right time". It was not the right time in the past four years of Fine Gael Government, supported by Fianna Fáil. It is not the right time today. I suppose it depends on one's philosophy and if one believes that we just need a return to normal and have masses of low-paid workers. Ireland has the largest nu…

I accept Senator Casey's bona fides and I have no doubt that he is a good employer. I am delighted that he acknowledges the value of the JLC system when it was in place. To be clear, I never said that workers do not have any rights. I noted something that is factually correct, namely, that this State is one of only two countries in Europe which do not have collective bargaining rights. In other words, I am pointing out that an employer can legally refuse to recognise that his or her employees are members of a union…

It is still surprising that there are Deputies on the conservative side who really do not understand the struggles of workers in the private sector and how hard it is to get justice at work. I refer to low-paid workers, contract cleaners and people working in nursing homes for a flat fee on 24-hour shifts across seven days who can work any 12 hours in those 24 hours and get paid as little as €11 an hour. When those people ask for more or ask to have any kind of voice at work they are told they will not get hours th…

That is because they are so poorly paid.

I oppose section 8. I will be brief because we have discussed this at length on Second Stage. This section is bad politics. The policies here are going to drive up the price of housing. We have seen a previous Parliamentary Budget Office report on the help-to-buy scheme. It is a poor scheme and disproportionately benefits higher income earners and is not what we need. The last thing we need is to drive house prices up even further. The Minister has even conceded the weakness in no impact assessment having taken pla…

I move recommendation No. 9: In page 48, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: "(b) In section 46(1)(ca) by substituting "paragraphs 3(1) to (3), 7, 8, 11, 12, 13(3) and 13B(1) to (3)" for "paragraphs 7(a), 7A and 12", and". This topic has had a good airing. We welcome the reduction in VAT but we are pointing to the fact there has not been a corresponding decrease in VAT at the 13.5% level. This has been raised by others in the Chamber. It is a simple amendment.

I move recommendation No. 11: 11. In page 48, between lines 12 and 13, to insert the following: “Report on impact of reduction of VAT on motor vehicles and certain fuels 13. The Minister shall, within 5 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before Dáil Éireann a report on the impact of the reduction of VAT from 23 to 21 per cent, provided for under paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 12 , on the sale and consumption of motor vehicles, petrol, unmarked diesel, heavy fuel oil and motor fuel.”. This is a si…

That is a reasonable suggestion. I accept that.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I wish to raise the issue of the pandemic unemployment payments and call for a debate on the Covid-19 payments. This has been such an unmitigated disaster for the Government. It must be very embarrassing. I support entirely what Senator Higgins has said. How can we possibly deal with this law today, now that we know there are so many holes in it? We know the Free Legal Advice Centres have already declared that the approach that has been taken is illegal. The whole issue of p…

The Minister is very welcome. I wish her well in her role. She has a tough job ahead. I will just add a couple of points to what has already been said. I was watching the debate but, to be honest, I was not intending to speak. I was genuinely hoping that my colleague, Senator McCallion, would not be the only person to speak up for the people in the North of this country. I really hoped that somebody else here would speak about the unfairness of hard-working people who pay their taxes in the South being entitled to …