John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I acknowledge Senator Warfield, who tabled the initial amendment. In acknowledging that there was broad acceptance from the entire House, it is important to note that we particularly wanted to include the sector in question in the legislation. It is appropriate that the Minister has added the additional mechanisms on "minimum requirements in relation to governance, previous experience, financial management" because, ultimately, when it comes to the approved housing bodies, the councils and community trusts, all the transactions are on the State's balance sheet as a result of the decision made by EUROSTAT several years ago to reclassify approved housing bodies. We have to be prudent in every measure we pass in this House but the development is welcome. It ties in with what we are trying to achieve, which is to ramp up the production of affordable units by any mechanism possible.