RTÉ reported today that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will be bringing plans to Cabinet to amend the Electoral Reform Bill 2022 to ensure that finance from outside the State does not influence elections. This is a very positive development, which we welcome. We have been calling for it for some time, but it needs to be done properly. These amendments, strictly speaking, are outside the scope of the legislation. I spoke in detail on Second Stage of the Bill about the need to introduce legislation on this matter. We are quite surprised that the media have been told that the amendments in this regard will be introduced to the Electoral Reform Bill.

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. is the deadline for amendments to the legislation. Given that there are such significant changes to the initial scope of the Bill, what is needed now - there is precedent for it - is a return to a form of mini-Second Stage debate to discuss in detail some of the significant proposals the Minister appears likely to make in regard to the financing of politics from outside the State. We would welcome that important debate and it is one we should have in this House. I propose that we delay Committee Stage to allow that debate to happen in detail on Second Stage.

Will the Government consider having some discussion on what it has been talking about doing in regard to a vacant property tax, of which we are very much in favour? There has been some discussion on this in the Oireachtas committee, which I understand will publish a report today on the whole issue. It is a matter of extreme urgency that we address the issue of vacant and derelict properties, which could be used to help us to deal with the housing crisis. Does the Government have any plans for some sort of discussion about its own thoughts on the housing committee report and to give us an opportunity to debate this urgent issue?

As Deputy Mattie McGrath knows, two hours are allocated tomorrow for the People Before Profit Deputies in Private Members' time, which gives adequate time to discuss the industrial dispute to which he referred. If further time is required, we can discuss it at the meeting of the Business Committee on Thursday.

In regard to the Electoral Reform Bill, I welcome Deputy Nash's positive comments regarding the Minister's amendments. The latter has given a commitment that a comprehensive briefing will be given to all Opposition parties on the amendments. There also will be full and adequate time given at the committee to debate the amendments being proposed. There will be no time restrictions in that regard. As the Deputy knows, there is no provision within Standing Orders to revert to a Second Stage debate on the legislation. However, full time will be given on Committee Stage and there will be full engagement with Opposition Deputies on the point raised.

A debate on the housing committee's report is something we could prioritise, with the agreement of the Ceann Comhairle and the Business Committee, for the Thursday evening lottery slot. It is a topical issue and the recommendations made require debate in the House. If Members are happy to do so, perhaps the report, which is published today, can be prioritised at the meeting of the Business Committee for discussion.

Are the proposed arrangements for this week's business agreed to? Agreed.