Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know there will be further engagements on this issue, but I do not want the witnesses to leave the meeting thinking that members are being overly negative. We are trying to tease the issues through. It goes back to my original point that it would have been preferable for the legislation to have been brought forward alongside the announcement of the agency, which is seen by many as a silver bullet. All present know there is no silver bullet solution to the housing crisis. While I acknowledge the point that none of the lands has been developed, that is not to say they would not have been developed otherwise. I wish to put on record Fianna Fáil's support for a model such as this. However, if we pass this legislation and the LDA fails, we, as Oireachtas Members, will be judged on the intricacies of its operation. That will not necessarily be the case for the witnesses. It is for the Oireachtas to pass legislation and, as such, we must ensure it is robust. That is the reason for our questions.

I previously asked Ms Graham to outline the timeframe for passage of the Bill as accurately as possible because we are in a political cycle. I did not make that point to feed into any uncertainty but the fact is that we are on the cusp of an election in the coming months. What is the timeframe to which the Minister is operating for the passage of the legislation, if it is supported? I am not assuming it will be supported.

As I have made clear to the Minister, my strong request as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on housing is that significant Government amendments to the Bill are not tabled on Committee Stage. That happened with the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act when new sections of the Bill were submitted as amendments. If we are to get the Bill published, I would rather see it, warts and all. I urge just caution against such major amendments and ask Ms Graham to bring a message to the Minister that we do not want large additions or new sections to be introduced on Committee or Report Stage. The Chair is new to the committee, so he may not be aware that has happened with significant legislation. The Bill could work if it is done properly. I disagree with some aspects of it, particularly those in respect of delivering affordability. We will go through that at a later stage. The timeframe is important.

I have a technical query on head 30 regarding interaction with the Committee of Public Accounts and the person nominated from the LDA to appear before it. Subsection (3), referred to in subhead 2, states that the nominated person appears as a person accountable to the committee, not as an Accounting Officer. What distinction is being made between the individual accounting to the committee and an Accounting Officer? Is the intention that the CEO of the LDA will not be its Accounting Officer? Will the Minister be the Accounting Officer? I ask Ms Graham to clarify that issue.

We will revisit these issues in the next session, particularly the issue of affordable purchase. I keep raising it because I am concerned that although affordable rental is part of a model with which I agree, people keep talking about a European model of housing delivery. We are behind the European average in terms of home ownership. Between 21% and 22% of people here rent private accommodation. There seems to be a policy move towards encouraging people to rent rather than buy, which is of concern regardless of whether it is renting in the public or private sector. I would like to tease out further the balance between purchase and rental. People should be able to have an honest and realistic aspiration to own a house and they should be supported in that regard. If they do not have the resources to do so, that is when the State and public housing should come into play. I am concerned at seeing another lurch towards a predominance of rental and less emphasis on purchase and home ownership.

I thank the witnesses for their contributions in today's engagement, which has been useful. I have learned from it and will have far more questions on the next occasion. The timeframe for passage of the Bill is significant.