Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will engage with the Minister's office and determine what is appropriate in terms of facilitating the debate on all the issues and ensuring an opportunity in the House to debate the report. The report is an important body of work that was commissioned and published by the committee.

Senator Warfield spoke about rents going up by 25%. Everyone is aware that the rental sector is under pressure and that there are significant increases in costs. I disagree with the Senator's point that the lifting of the eviction ban led to a person taking the home back for a family member. I do not have an issue with that. If somebody owns a home and wants to take it back for a son or daughter, that is their right, because it is their property. The problem is that we do not have enough supply for people to move elsewhere. The problem is not that a person wanted the house back for a family member. As long as that reason is genuine, it should not be a difficulty because, ultimately, it is the person's house. Supply is the issue, and that is why the Government is investing record amounts of money in housing, why the number of homes delivered is increasing year on year and why we are starting to turn the tide regarding housing. It is the reason for the renters tax credit made available last year and this year, putting €1,000 back into the pockets of renters to try to ease the burden of cost inflation in the rental sector. The Government, including the Minister with responsibility for housing, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is acutely aware of this matter. A top priority of the Minister is to try to address the supply issue because that is ultimately the problem.

Senator Mullen spoke about the university franchise and the referendum that did not result in any changes in respect of the electoral process. The relevant Minister is very much aware of the Supreme Court decision, which has been well publicised. The Senator will see submissions before the due date. Change is coming in that regard.

Senator Boyhan spoke about the Second Stage debate we will have tomorrow on the legislation on mother and baby homes. It is a very emotive issue. Many in the House share concerns about how the scheme has been laid out. The scheme has many good parts, and much good work has gone into it. I know from engaging with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, that he has worked extremely hard to get the current scheme. He genuinely cares about it and is committed to doing his best for the victims and others affected. He is very much aware of the concerns being raised around the non-inclusion of the period of six months and under. We will have the debate and we are all getting the emails. I look forward to welcoming people to the Gallery tomorrow. They will be most welcome to engage with us and hear our debate.