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

I apologise to the Chair and members for the delay in getting back in. There were some technical issues on this side which have now been resolved. I hope it did not inconvenience people too much.

I have listened intently to members' contributions on this grouping. One area covered by it, as will be seen when it is discussed, and I know Sinn Féin will do so later on, is conditional affordable home ownership, where Deputy Boyd Barrett and his colleagues in amendment No. 47 will effectively tell you to whom you can sell a home you own and restrictions in that regard. I know Sinn Féin have published details in that space also. I will oppose that amendment.

We all know that there is a major affordability issue. We know that we want to address the issue as it applies to working people. People have mentioned bank clerks, nurses and gardaí. We want to make sure affordability measures we bring forward in our Affordable Housing Bill work. They will work. That is why I intend to amend Part 9, including section 76, on Report Stage to align the provisions more closely with the provisions in the recently published Affordable Housing Bill, which is before the Seanad, and indeed Part V of the Planning and Development Act. Members know I intend to bring forward a provision in it regarding affordability. We will table that on Report Stage. It is important this Bill is aligned with the Affordable Housing Bill. We have both of these Bills before the Oireachtas and want to pass them by the summer recess, which shows the urgency the Government and I are addressing this with, to establish our affordable housing schemes which will be aligned with what we are doing here.

I will not accept the amendments and will bring further amendments to Part 9 of the Bill on Report Stage.