I am appalled by the Government's decision to lift the eviction ban at a time when so many people have received notices to quit. The ban on evictions was meant to give the Government time to put measures in place. Instead, the Government squandered that time. According to data from the Residential Tenancies Board, RTB, for quarter 3 of last year, 1,839 notices to quit were sent by letter in Dublin alone. Sinn Féin has been asking the Government a question that it does not seem able to answer. I ask the Minister aga…

We are over time.

The Deputy indicated he would contribute so I assumed-----

The Deputy has overstepped.

The Deputy indicated he would ask a question.

He indicated he had a question about Dublin 13. If he had other issues he should have submitted a question. I will move on to the Minister to reply.

The Deputy is not speaking on a point relevant to the question.

In fairness-----

The Minister to conclude.

However, you did not. You were given 30 seconds. You decided to go down a different road.

The Minister to conclude.

On a point of order, I am aware this is at the Ceann Comhairle's gift. The Business Committee met this morning and there was no indication given this issue would be taken later today. I welcome the fact the Minister of State is in the House to give an explanation, but it would have been better if the Business Committee had been informed and if the Minister of State would have been prepared to have a questions and answers session.

We now move to the Labour Party slot. Deputy Sean Sherlock is sharing time with Deputy Wynne.

The Deputy has 90 seconds remaining.

No, we will move on now to the Independent Group.

Emergency health services in Dublin are at breaking point. Front-line paramedics and operational staff have kept the ambulance services running with their tireless work but they have not been properly supported by this Government. The National Ambulance Service is not able to do its job to the level we need because it does not have the capacity. People now wait more than 20 minutes for an ambulance in Dublin and the east coast. The average response time is now 22 minutes but I know of cases in my constituency where…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. This is a complex Bill to which there are many moving parts. There is a significant change involved here, with the Government seeking to completely replace the Garda Síochána Act 2005 with the legislation before us. While we are supportive of the Bill, it is important to note that it is not without its critics. I know that matter will be discussed on Committee Stage. One focus of Sinn Féin's submission in 2018 was the need for reform of community policing. Restoring t…

In the current rental climate, where houses and apartments are completely unaffordable for the average worker and family and where the houses that these people need do no not exist, the Government must extend the eviction ban beyond 31 March in order to prevent thousands more people becoming homeless. It is the compassionate and humane thing to do. Renters need security. A ban on evictions is, as we all know, a temporary solution, but it is a necessary reaction to the housing crisis that the people of this State ha…

This question will be introduced by Deputy Nash.

The Deputy is over time.