Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I agree with much of what he said. It is my experience of this committee, in the eight months it has been together, that it has taken pre-legislative scrutiny very seriously. Members have applied themselves to it very diligently. We have produced a number of reports and there are further reports in train at the moment. There is much more legislation coming towards us. The committee holds pre-legislative scrutiny in high regard. It is something we should always try to do and I have always tried to facilitate it. We have done it well and in a collaborative and collegiate manner up to this point.

That is not the question today. The question is whether we agree to waive PLS on this particular Bill because of the time constraints around it. This Bill is seriously time constrained and there is urgency about it. There is a real possibility that the legislation and current protections we have in place to protect people from evictions and rent increases could expire before we introduce this new legislation. As Chair, it is my job to try and direct this committee. I am mindful of the workload, St. Patrick's Day, Easter and the fact the Minister wishes to introduce this next Thursday in the Dáil, which will give every Member an opportunity to participate in the debate. I support PLS but I have to take a responsible and sensible approach as well. If we go down the route of PLS, we will not be able to carry it out in a timeframe that will allow this legislation to be introduced and in place to protect tenants before it expires on 12 April. That is the vote we will take today.