Although I am speaking to amendments Nos. 8 and 9, I will concentrate on the latter, having heard what Senator Higgins said. The Minister might say that of course I would say so, given that I am proposing it, but it is one of the most important amendments to the Bill. It is not something I dreamed up. It came out of a lot of discussion and engagement with a lot of housing advocacy groups, from listening as a member of the housing committee, and from rereading, rechecking and cross-referencing with people who made p…

I am trying to impress upon him because it is he who will respond to me on this. I want him to afford me the same respect I afford him.

The amendment proposes a 35% cap on what can be charged for affordable housing with regard to an applicant's net income. If people are paying over this amount each month to have a roof over their heads it is simply not affordable. I refer to the Minister's reference to the affordable bands and the suggestion of €450,000 for Dublin. This is not affordable housing and it is important to make this point. Somehow we have got lost in the idea of affordable bands. If it is not based on 15% of income it is not affordable.…

I move amendment No. 9: In page 12, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following: “(9) Regulations under subsection (7) will have regard to: (a) ensuring that the proportion of the applicant’s net income represented by housing costs not exceed 35 per cent of the total, and; (b) ensuring that the applicant’s income falls within the bottom 40 per cent of national income distribution but is above the Maximum Net Income Threshold, as defined by the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 84/2011), that…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

Seconded.

Seconded.

Seconded.

I move amendment No. 19: In page 35, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(4) Without prejudice to subsection (5) , no rent shall be defined as “cost rental rent” whereby the total amount of such rent would exceed 35 per cent of the applicant’s net income as determined by a housing authority.”.

I wish to make three points. I am conscious of the order of the House today, so I will be brief because many other Senators have tabled amendments. Amendment No. 19 has been tabled in the same spirit as my previous amendment, which was amendment No. 9, in that it ensures that the cost to the person availing of housing is affordable. Affordability is a key issue, which Senators Moynihan and Higgins discussed in great detail on Committee Stage. The amendment allows for rent to vary from person to person, providing mo…

I will not delay as I am conscious that there are many other Members who wish to contribute.

Okay, but there are other amendments to be dealt with, and they are clearly set out in front of us. I thank the Minister of State. I differ from him but I respect him. He is part of the Government and, regardless of what we say on this side of the House, the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party Government has a massive majority and can do what it wishes in terms of policy. That is the reality, and the record speaks for itself. However, I thank the Minister of State for his consistency, the respectful manner with …

Yes.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I wish to thank my colleague, Senator Mullen, for putting forward this amendment. It is an excellent amendment. That is why I am supporting it. However, the issue is perhaps even more complex than Senator Mullen outlined. He touched on it when he mentioned the local authorities. I have many concerns about the Land Development Agency. However, one of the issues of note concerns the new master land register. It is quite extraordinary that local government auditors are constantly challenging local authorities, in thei…

I second the amendment.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I tabled this Commencement matter following a lot of engagement with small farmers. I visited a number of farms in the last few days in County Laois. The farms I am talking about are small, traditional land holdings with Land Commission houses. Such farms are common in counties Cavan and Kerry. I was in Cavan last week and was also in Kerry, Clare, Galway and Wicklow. On all occasions I was there by appointment and visited small land holdings. The Minister of State will…