Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

No, it is not agreed. The expectation of the House was that the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill would be before us today. In fact, the expectation is that the Bill would be concluded today in order that it could go to the Seanad and be law before Christmas.

Thousands of tenants are looking at this House expecting that to happen. The proposal that we should simply not deal with it or that we might have a revised Order later in the day, if agreement is reached between two parties in the House, is wholly unacceptable. Not only is it unacceptable, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, it is an insult to the rest of us.

I propose that we deal with the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill. A range of amendments have already been submitted by parties and individuals in the House. We should let the majority in the House determine the policy in this area. If "new politics" is to mean anything, then let the majority in the House decide these matters. The majority cannot be thwarted by any minority.

See this speech in context