Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and the introduction of Senator Coghlan's Bill. Senator Coghlan has had the Bill available for some time and talked to us about it on several occasions. The House was keen that he put forward a Private Members' Bill on this matter. I also thank the Minister for his support for the Bill. He has said he approves of the thrust of the Bill while the legalities, technicalities and wording of the legislation need to be altered to make it a proper Bill. That is not to denigrate Senator Coghlan's Bill but simply to make it kosher, so to speak.

I have always been a supporter of Private Members' Bills, whether in this House or in the Dáil. We have not been very good about accommodating Private Members' Bills here. When I was a member of the last Government I took three Private Members' Bills, even though the Civil Service, and I do not wish to fault the officials who are present in the Chamber this evening, were totally against them and did not want me to take them. One Bill died by the wayside and never reappeared, one we were able to bring forward in its proper technicalities and one went to a committee. Why should enterprise in individual Members, be they Senators or Deputies, be stifled? It is a fine spirit. Members should not sit back, take every Government Bill and nod like the figure on a collection box.

On the Order of Business this morning, Senators Coghlan and Brian Hayes asked what would happen to this Bill this evening. I went to see the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and he told me, as the Minister of State has also said, that he has no difficulty in agreeing with the thrust of the Bill but that its legislative provisions and language, of which drafting people are enormously protective, would need to be tightened.

Following that meeting, the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, has expressed his support for the thrust of the Bill and has said that he would be prepared to bring forward an amended Bill in approximately six months.

That is quite a step forward. I am well aware of housing needs. A significant amount of my time is spent dealing with matters such as social, council and private housing, construction of housing, planning matters and local authority loans. I am sure all Members deal with such matters in their constituencies.

This issue is of particular concern in rural areas where people are anxious to obtain a house in which they can live and of which they can be proud. It is an issue which takes up a great deal of rural Members' time. Members in Dublin may also deal with such matters. It is certainly a major part of constituency work in rural areas.

The Bill, as proposed, is filled with goodwill and is a measure which would ease people's burden, something which we all wish to do. The issue of bridging finance also arises. However, I do not think banks charge a great deal on such loans anymore. I remember when interest rates reached as high as 17% and when bridging finance was expensive. However, bridging finance is now taken out in smaller amounts, an issue which could also be examined in a more favourable light in order to ease people's burden. Housing remains an enormous issue in a country which prides itself on one's ability to purchase one's own home.

I fully respect Senator Coghlan's diligence in bringing forth this Bill. It is a matter for him if he wishes to press it; it is his right as an Opposition Senator to do so. I would harry and harass the particular Minister as regards his commitment in this regard so that by the end of the year we will have a proper Bill before the House. I am not suggesting the Senator's Bill is not proper but the new one will be kosher in legislative terms. I have advised the Senator of the Minister's commitment in this regard but it is for him to decide whether to press it. The Minister of State's speech was positive. Why should a good measure not be implemented? I hope Senator Coghlan will make his mark on the Seanad, as he has done in various other ways, when this Bill returns to the House with the harp upon it albeit under the flagship of Government.

I ask the Opposition to accept my commitment while fully respecting its position.