Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As I and others have stated, the Bill is rife with unintended consequences. This is another example.

Notwithstanding the other elements of the Bill which I can only refer to as environmental sabotage, I and Sinn Féin have consistently called for a separate canals Bill, as originally intended. Such a Bill, one that enhances rather than hinders the canals activity, should still be progressed.

While I have the floor, I call for a debate on the canals. I note Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council worked on a report prior to 2010 around developing the Royal Canal and Grand Canal as leisure and habitable places. That was done with a consultant. We need to have a debate about the canals here in the capital.

What I am hearing from Senators Humphreys and Grace O'Sullivan is that 19 families may be made homeless by virtue of the fact that Waterways Ireland only has planning permission for 20 licences that allow for 365 day permits. Forty-three occupied houseboats are in Grand Canal Dock and the remaining 23 of those boats would have to apply for 90 day permits.

As it stands, without clarity, Sinn Féin is inclined to support the proposal that we delay this legislation tonight.