As has been stated by Deputy Ó Broin and others, we will not oppose the Bill, but we do not believe it will cut the mustard and deal with the situation of hard-pressed renters. The rent pressure zones failed, as will this legislation. It is almost as if it is legislation for a situation that is not as dysfunctional as the one with which we are dealing. RPZs failed to deliver on 4%; the Minister is now talking about 2%. We do not see the Bill delivering on that, but if we are talking about 2%, why are we not talking…

I agree that the Government has responsibility. It is in power, and therefore it has the information and all the resources of government to be able to do what needs to be done. Our difficulty from time to time has not been regarding measures, but the lack of a coherent plan and clear messaging. These aspects must be improved. We all accept that this is an incredibly difficult situation. Everyone here, particularly from an Opposition perspective, has spoken about how we do not get the briefings. We are not aware of …

Hear, hear.

I welcome the fact we are dealing with the PUP being put back in operation, which is a necessity. We have also had the conversation, before we even had today's announcements or leaks, in regard to the necessity for businesses that were already being impacted to receive supports. When the Minister is talking to her Cabinet colleagues and others, I imagine that has to be part of the solution also. We need to ensure we maintain EWSS, CRSS and all of those other necessary supports, particularly for the businesses that …

We will be supporting this legislation, although we will be tabling a number of amendments. There has already been much discussion this morning on the need for a greater level of interaction between the Government and the Opposition, whether in dealing with legislation and proposals or the conditions prevailing at the time. It is about all the information being known. In fairness, there has been serious constructive engagement across this floor and in other forums on the operation of Leinster House. We need to see …

We all hoped that we would not be in this space but, to use that terrible term, we are where we are. We cannot do anything about the past mistakes. I think it is fair enough to hold the Government accountable and say that opportunities were missed. There has been probably some fly commentary on ventilation. We all know at this stage what the European and the US centres for disease control have said. We know NPHET's expert group on ventilation has spoken about the necessity and the requirement, and that what we basi…

I hope Members were as lucky as me in getting tickets to Garth Brooks this morning. To move on to something far more serious, my question is about the implementation of the recommendations of the report referred to in the question. We had the scoping exercise, the Guerin report, the implementation report and the difficulties in forming the implementation board. We all know the damage, the terror and the tragedy caused by the drug gangs in Drogheda. The question is about delivering on the recommendations of those re…

Dundalk, even.

We have all had multiple conversations on the necessity for multi-agency cross-departmental pieces of work that must be done to deal with the issue we have, which is caused by drug gangs and organised crime and the issues they cause in communities, particularly in working class communities. Obviously, the issue blew up in Drogheda, in particular. In fairness, a significant amount has been done and a significant number of promises have been made at this stage. We all accept that there must be early interventions at …

It is really good news that the co-ordinator is being appointed, because that was a missing piece of work. We must ensure that the Drogheda implementation board is able to deliver upon the promises that are contained within the plan. Obviously, it goes without saying that community representation is required. There must be buy-in from the ground up. We know there is a difficulty, and every group the Minister talks to across the State will say that is has become more difficult to deal with State agencies. The Red Do…

We welcome this legislation and will support it because it brings to an end the flawed SHD legislation. We need a decent framework for large-scale residential builds but let us be clear; unfortunately, strategic housing developments will be with us into 2022. That has already been put on record, particularly by a number of my colleagues. We will propose amendments in that regard on Committee Stage. We also have difficulties with the changes being proposed with regard to the judicial review process. We have not had …

It has been said straightforwardly by many others that we need a straightforward, coherent plan. People are incredibly worried at this point in time. The people who work in the health sector have done amazing work. They are under incredible pressure at the minute. Our health sector started with a lack of capacity in the primary care system, the hospital system and ICUs. We are dealing with that and are therefore starting from a bad place. When I refer to having a coherent plan, I am talking about vaccinations. Vacc…

I was somewhat confused when I came into the Chamber in that it looked like there were only two parties in government. I think I am correct that nobody from Fianna Fáil has spoken yet, but things are as they are. I am going to make my points in a straightforward way. I am glad we are having an over-and-back exchange and I am very glad the Government wants to work with the Opposition. We would be only too delighted to do so. However, it is all about delivery. At this point in time, as other speakers mentioned, we ha…

The question is on summer provision, which is a vital service. However, it has come to our attention that there is some element of delay in the payment of staff who have worked in this service. What is the position on that? We all accept just how vital it is.

I welcome that this Bill has been brought forward and I add my voice to that of others in that regard. I have spoken to Rape Crisis Network Ireland and to other experts in the field, of which there are many given the subject nature we are dealing with. We all accept the reality that we need to put this on a better footing to ensure all necessary community organisations are aware of the issues around people who pose a danger to children and society. We are talking about people who have been convicted of some of the …

This pandemic, which we are still in the middle of, has proven to us on some level how we have failed to manage this planet. Unfortunately, we have seen it come back to hurt us and hurt our people in a really dreadful and tragic way, and we are far from through it. Within the last period, we have had COP26 and, for all the failings there may have been, it was particularly useful in reinforcing the issues we are facing as a planet. There are sometimes very simple statements that the planet is burning. Greta Thunberg…

It will not be a shock that I will add my voice to what was said previously, particularly in respect of the necessity for planning on an all-Ireland basis for all the issues we are dealing with and all the strategic risks we face. Many of them will require even more than that. Obviously, there must be international co-operation, and within the European Union there is the facility to examine some of these specific issues. We could talk about any of them. With regard to housing, until we deal with the issue of ensuri…

I will not repeat what has been said. Obviously, I add my voice in support of Seán Binder. I put the same question about Lukashenko and the weaponisation of migrants which shocks us all. We all know how the energy crisis is impacting people. We are all beginning to get stories of people who cannot afford to pay for their gas, oil or electricity and are forced to consider alternatives that are not necessarily the greatest from the point of view of climate change, but that is what people will do. The Taoiseach spoke …

Was there any discussion about green bonds and physical constraints or a roadmap?

On what has just been said, Sinn Féin has an all-Ireland approach, as it has in relation to everything else and that includes women's rights. I welcome the shared island unit. I wish it would go further in certain fields, as I have said before. There are only benefits to be had in relation to a dialogue and engagement with all. That is why I have previously asked for a citizens' assembly. I am not looking for an over-and-back in relation to that. That is my view and I imagine the Taoiseach's view has not changed in…