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

Deputy Bacik expressed her concern regarding the consolidated planning and development Bill, which the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will bring to Government on 13 December. I have repeatedly stated that we will publish the Bill before the end of the year but that it will go into the pre-legislative scrutiny process because it is a major legislative measure and will require such scrutiny. The Minister will be bringing forward the planning and development and foreshore (amendment) Bill in respect of An Bord Pleanála. The heads of the Bill were approved by Cabinet earlier today. The Minister will bring the Bill before the Seanad next week. That Bill will provide for amendments in respect of An Bord Pleanála and will also contain emergency measures to accelerate the provision of rapid social housing on public lands. That will be debated in the House.

On Deputy Fitzpatrick's comments, all parties need to get together in the context of housing projects that come before local authorities. I refer, in particular, to projects envisaged for lands that local authorities own. There needs to be quick agreement in respect of how those lands should be used for housing. The Government published Housing for All. We appeal to everybody to get behind Housing for All and to not to be opposing projects too easily. Too many projects are being opposed for local political reasons at a time when we have a major crisis in the context of trying to get more houses built as rapidly as we can.

Deputy Whitmore referred to the House sitting on 17 December. This is similar to what happened when the Government was first formed.

It has merits and challenges. The Oireachtas committee is engaging with the childcare providers in respect of what can be done on the day. It will allow for flexibility in the following week, which is probably arguably more child-friendly in some respects. In other words, Deputies will have more flexibility in the crucial days leading up to Christmas. That is a consideration also.

Deputy Mattie McGrath raised the need for an urgent debate on the bank bonuses. Again, it is not bonuses for people earning more than €500,000. The removal of the cap is about basic remuneration, and to allow bonuses and variable pay for ordinary workers at all levels of the banks, and standard benefits as well. I do not know why the Deputy would be against workers in banks.

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