Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am simply making the point that everybody is in agreement on the North-South bodies. We are aware of how they are operating in the absence of all the institutions being up and running under the Good Friday Agreement. We hope to see them restored in the aftermath of the elections. However, we also wish to ensure the legal framework for these North-South bodies is not open to challenge.

The Bill removes any doubt that a North-South implementation body is not bound by the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents)(No. 2) Act 1978 and directly incorporates the exemption in respect of that protection for dwelling houses contained in the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1980 in the same terms as set out in that Act. The Bill is being introduced with a view to its passage through both Houses in one day and signature by the President later today. It is considered essential to ensure clarity and certainty in this area of law and to remove any doubt that might exist as to the protection afforded to the North-South implementation bodies with regard to landlord and tenant ground rent issues.

That is the technical issue involved. It is urgent and we need to deal with it in the way proposed. That is the reason the briefing was given to Deputy Sargent and others. These are no more or less than technical issues.

Question, "That the proposal for dealing with No. a6 be agreed", put and declared carried.

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