For once, I find myself in total agreement with Deputy Mattie McGrath on his comments. He said it well. I commend the Minister of State on bringing this legislation forward. When it went through the Oireachtas committee, it was one item of legislation on which there was full agreement with regard to the spirit of it, the way it was written and the various areas it covered and catered for. When we put together our pre-legislative report, it was one of the easiest such reports I have ever put together because there w…

I always think that the language we use when we discuss planning is incredibly important. There is often commentary that labels people objectors when in fact there is no such thing. There are people who make observations, be they negative or positive, or maybe request conditions to be attached to decisions. Similarly, in the debate that has surrounded this, some of the language has been unhelpful. I have heard many people describe it as a power grab. That is not fair at all. I do not see it as a power grab. Let us …

Deputy Murphy can put his hand up and speak through the Chair if he wants to.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I appreciate that. I will continue. It is important that the committee reports in some shape or form. I believe everyone present is agreed that the board has been badly shaken in the past 12 months. There are incredibly good, hard-working people in An Bord Pleanála, so whatever we do in this legislation has to support them and the good people working across planning and local authorities. We cannot do something here that damages that confidence even more. Clarity on the committee, the r…

I think this was probably the first legislation on which the committee carried out pre-legislative scrutiny, in October or November 2020. It is no coincidence that the amendments submitted by Deputies Ó Broin and O'Callaghan and me are all virtually identical. I suggest that is because we met, and carefully considered the proposal with, representatives of An Taisce and the Sustainable Water Network, SWAN, two organisations for which I have great respect. I joined An Taisce about 20 years ago because I firmly believ…

The housing crisis is the foremost challenge we face. I notice that most of the Opposition Front Bench is missing, including its spokesperson, deputy leader and leader. It is a pity they did not stay for the complete debate.

We need to build thousands of houses.

I cannot speak with these interruptions. I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will stop the clock.

That tenure mix will consist-----

I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will add the time on for the constant interruptions. If the Opposition would care to listen to some of the facts and information, we need to revitalise our town centres and address dereliction and vacancy. The tenure mix will be private, social, affordable and cost rental, providing long-term secure tenancies at affordable rents in well-designed sustainable communities. My party chose to go into government to make the decisions to enable us to deliver on the housing challenge, on co…

The Government, through the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has introduced a vast range of legislation to address these matters. The Land Development Agency Act, the Affordable Housing Act, the Maritime Area Planning Act and, very shortly, the marine protected areas legislation to protect and preserve -----

There were continuous interruptions. I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will allow me a little more time.

We are currently carrying out the most significant piece of planning reform and improvement since the 1963 and 2000 Acts and that will deliver. We have introduced zoned-land tax and a vacant homes tax capturing the State land value uplift from zoning and town centres first as our leading policy.

I have worked with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and his team in the Custom House as Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I know first hand his commitment on housing and homelessness and the huge range of issues in his remit.

If any Member of People Before Profit wants to drop into the committee to actually learn about what is happening in the legislative process, I would be delighted to make time for him or her. However, having the right information would probably not suit their narrative. I have confidence in the Minister to continue to deliver on critical issues for our country.

There were constant interruptions while I was trying to speak.

I raised the issue of the community ophthalmic services medical treatment scheme with the Minister previously with regard to reviewing the reimbursement to medical professionals in this sector. I asked whether that is under consideration. My understanding is that the reimbursement paid to them has not kept pace with the costs of delivering that service. This is an extremely important community-based eye medical service.

I thank the Minister. It is welcome news to hear he has requested an evaluation to be carried out on the expansion of the scheme. I hope it will also include the payments that are made under the scheme to the practitioners. As the Minister outlined, it is a very valuable service and one I recently experienced. The Minister might have noticed the black eye I have at the moment. Many people have been asking me about it. I have had to tell them I underwent a small eye procedure recently. It really brought home the val…

I welcome that news. I will leave it in the Minister's capable hands to look at that. I know he understands the importance of this service. I am glad to receive that response this morning.

I find myself in agreement with Opposition speakers here today. We worked together on the relevant Oireachtas committee. As has been said by others, we heard from a number of witnesses who advised us and we put together a report with a number of recommendations. The most important piece of information the committee received was legal advice from the OPLA on a number of questions we raised. I am unsure as to whether we did or can share this legal advice with the Department but I think it is extremely important that …