Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 5, to delete line 16.

These are drafting amendments. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle indicated, this is a large group of drafting amendments that arise from earlier amendments to the scope of the Bill. The Bill's scope was extended on earlier Seanad Stages and on Select Committee to include traditional housing estates which have an owner-management company structure and to cover mixed-use multi-unit developments.

These changes necessitated amendments to definitions, including the introduction of the definition of "commercial unit" which now appears in section 1. The Bill already included a definition of "unit" as meaning a "residential unit". The Bill, as it now stands, makes numerous references to units. It is not always clear whether such a reference is intended to refer to residential units, commercial units or both. In the interests of clarity, amendment No. 3 proposes the definition of "unit" be removed and that in the other amendments under consideration the term "residential" be inserted before the term "unit" wherever appropriate. The same problem arises wherever the term "development" is used. It is no longer clear whether it refers to multi-unit development, mixed-use multi-unit development or to both. Several amendments are proposed to clarify what is intended. The opportunity has also been taken to improve the Bill's text, readability and comprehension.

Amendment agreed to.

Bill reported with amendment.

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