Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The reason we set up an independent commission was to avoid, every single year, having partisan perspectives on it. We wanted it professionally done and well researched with a balance of considerations taken into account. That commission also assisted the Tánaiste and did some work on a living wage. The Tánaiste has published the details of that and has given a timeline for us to achieve a living wage by 2025. It is a good initiative and it represents substantial and significant progress on where we were. It is reasonable and balanced and it is subject to review over the coming years on an ongoing basis.

On Deputy Bacik's point, I will speak to the Minister about where that legislation is. I have sympathy with what the Deputy is saying about early miscarriage and the need for some parental or paid leave. I will come back to her on where that is in terms of the legislation and IVF treatments.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of multiple tariffs on domestic heating and referenced Enniskerry Road and the cost rental scheme there. That is a very good scheme, which the Minister deserves credit for introducing and giving a bit of momentum to. We hope we will see far more cost rental housing. I will talk to the Minister on the issue of tariffs. I do not have the details so I ask the Deputy to submit them to us. On a broader basis, domestic heating and district heating systems need to be examined in the context of the energy crisis and what supports we can give to protect tenants, in particular, from exorbitant energy costs.

Deputy Paul Murphy raised direct provision centres and the comments by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, yesterday. Where someone is fully employed, is a citizen of the State, may have been in a position for two or three years to leave direct provision but has chosen not to do so and is on a good salary, as with anyone in social housing or any rental situation, some contribution should be made. It does not have to be a market rent and no one is suggesting that but making a contribution, given the enormity of the challenges the State is facing, is not unreasonable.

Those proposals have not yet come before the Government. There will be further meetings in respect of all of these issues so that we have equity across the board in the treatment of people in different contexts and different situations. Any contribution would have to take into account the conditions that people are living in. There are now substantial numbers of people who have been in a position to leave direct provision for quite some time but have chosen not to do so. This was before the current crisis and it was prior to last year.

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