Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As everybody knows, this Bill originated as a Private Members' Bill in the Seanad and received support from all sides of the House. Its primary objective is to deal with what are widely seen as the potentially adverse consequences for ground rent tenants flowing from a 2012 ruling of the Supreme Court.

I am pleased the Bill received support in this House and I thank colleagues on all sides for that support. I thank Senator Robbie Gallagher for initiating the Private Members' Bill, my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, for establishing the expert group to examine the Bill and draw up the appropriate Committee Stage amendments, and the members of that group, especially Professor John Wiley, the leading Irish expert in this complex area of law, as well as the officials in the Department of Justice and Equality for the work they put into the Bill. I also acknowledge the work of Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and the way in which he managed the Committee Stage consideration of the Bill. I thank all of those in Carrickmacross who supported the Bill.

Arising from acceptance of the Government's Committee Stage amendments, it will be necessary to report on those amendments to Seanad Éireann. I hope to do that as soon as possible, possibly as early as next week. I have already asked the Minister for Justice and Equality to commence the legislation following signature by the President and he assured me that he will do so. My hope and expectation is that the new legislation will enter into force before the end of the year. I know that will be good news for the people of Carrickmacross who have waited a long time for it.

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