Mr. John McCarthy:

I was just about to come to that matter because it is slightly different. The point I was making was that the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten's Department was leading on the housing stock issue generally and how retrofits could be encouraged. However, social housing stocks falls within our remit. Through the local authorities, we are the custodians of that part of the housing stock and, as such, are involved in and support the retrofitting process in the sector. Phase 1 retrofitting was designed to use the limited resources available in 2013 when we started doing this work to try to have as much attic and cavity wall insulation work done as we possibly could from a comfort and fuel poverty perspective, as much as from any other. It was clear that the level of funding available at the time was only sufficient to cover these basic, albeit important, works. Phase 2 will be a much deeper exercise. While we are still working to finalise the arrangements for that phase, our ambition is to achieve a B2 BER standard for these social housing units. As I said, the 30% of our stock which is more than 40 years old is where we will target our initial efforts most as they are the buildings in greatest need of this deep level of retrofit.

A strategic environmental assessment of the national planning framework was completed and the report has been published and is publicly available to anyone who wishes to access it. While the maritime area and foreshore (amendment) Bill and marine spatial planning are obviously connected, they are moving on parallel tracks. Senator Tim Lombard asked about the Bill. I note that we are awaiting legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General. As soon as we receive it and have a chance to assess it, we will move on with the Bill as quickly as we can. However, I cannot say what the legislative timeline will be until we receive the legal advice and can see the issues that arise from it.