Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take the next Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we conclude, it would be remiss of me not to wish the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, a very speedy recovery. On our behalf I wish him all the best.

I wish to welcome Mr. Phil Thompson, chief executive officer of Tiglin. He is very welcome. I know he is a regular visitor here and I thank him for all he does. As it is now past 5.30 p.m., I am required to put the following question in accordance with an order of the Seanad of the day: "In respect of each of the sections undisposed of, the section is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Title is hereby agreed to in Committee; the Bill is accordingly reported to the House without amendment; Fourth Stage is hereby com…

We now move to Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 for Committee and Remaining Stages. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Browne, and his officials this evening.

Amendment No. 1 in the name of Senator McCarthy has been ruled out of order.

Senator McCarthy can speak on the section.

Would you like me to read it now? Amendment No. 1 in the name of Senator McCarthy would provide that the Minister shall not commence the Act until a human rights and equality impact assessment has been conducted and a strategy has been devised. The amendment further provides that this assessment shall include the views of various specified organisations. It is an established principle that amendments which would make the commencement of an Act contingent on actions external to the control of the Houses themselves a…

Senator, please.

Does Senator Ruane wish to come back in?

Dáíl Éireann agreed on 8 July 2026 to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025. Dáíl Éireann agreed on 8 July 2026 to the recommendations made by Seanad Éireann to the Finance Bill 2026 and has made amendments in consequence to the Bill. Dáil Éireann passed the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 on 8 July 2026, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann passed the Planning and Development (Amendme…

The Cathaoirleach has received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Maria Byrne - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on the eligibility criteria for the living alone allowance. Senator Sarah O'Reilly - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the funding allocated to Cavan as part of the additional funding for roads damaged during Storm Chandra. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins - The need for the Minister for Fo…

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection. I am grateful for the Minister's note to me to say he could not be here. I thank the Minister of State for taking his place. There is an anomaly in the eligibility criteria for the living alone allowance. Retired teachers do not receive their pension from the Department of Social Protection. They have the same cost-of-living expenses we all face but they do not qualify for the living alone allowance be…

Teachers nowadays will qualify for the State pension, as we heard in the Minister of State's response, but there is a small anomaly. A small cohort are affected by the issue I have raised. They still face the same rising costs. They made lower PRSI contributions in the past. However, they are living alone. They still have heating and grocery bills and other bills coming in the door. There should be a review of the system. Perhaps exceptional circumstances could be examined for this small cohort. They have the same …

Before I move to the Order of Business I welcome our guests in the Public Gallery, Senator Mary Daly, and Senator Michael Johnson and family, Deputy Malcolm Byrne and Seán Tierney, guests of the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and guests of Deputy Aidan Farrelly. They are all very welcome.

Before we move on, I wish to acknowledge Deputy Cahill and his guests in the Visitors Gallery and our colleague Senator McCarthy and his guests from Picker Pals TV Club and the Links Project. They are all very welcome. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today.

Amendments Nos. 13, 14, 16, 18 to 26, inclusive, 29 to 31, inclusive, 33, 46, 74, 75 and 89 to 91, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the people from Limerick who have arrived in the Chamber who are with Councillor Noreen Stokes. They have arrived at an opportune time and I pay tribute to Noreen. Her family, friends and supporters have helped her since she got elected and they are all very welcome. I want to raise two issues regarding regional balance and call for two debates. One is on the almost 3,000 people who are registered for apprenticeships with Limerick and Clare ETB. Apprenticeship is an area that is expanding very much and it…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ardagh, and her officials.