Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. On Committee Stage I raised the issue of tenancies in perpetuity and the importance to the Green Party of ensuring that if somebody takes up a tenancy at 20 years of age, he or she is not out on his or her ear at potentially 50 years of age, as was the position at the time. With the acceptance by the Minister of extending the period to 40 years, we also do not want to see a difficulty when somebody is 60 years of age. Certainly, the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, indicated that it is the intention that the majority of cost-rental tenancies would be in perpetuity. I ask that it be examined from the point of view of including something in the Bill. I am not entirely happy with some of the language in the Bill. I believe we could expand it beyond public land and have it where there is State intervention. Some assurances were given on Committee Stage, and I am happy with that. However, I wonder if the Minister of State would consider putting it into the Bill.