On the proposed Order of Business, I am pretty confident that the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will be discharged today in a timely fashion. I encourage all Senators to come together and respect the different positions taken. There has not been a lot of time. The Order of Business proposes that this Bill be discharged today and a motion for earlier signature by the President be taken. There is no counter-proposal as of now, so it is important we just get on with the business and listen respectfully to what people have to say, as is the general rule in the House. I note the proposal in the Order of Business. I have no objection to it and I am reasonably confident the Bill will be discharged in a timely manner this afternoon.

I welcome the Government's decision to expand the buy and renew scheme, which is aimed at returning long-term disused buildings into high-quality sustainable homes. This is a really welcome initiative. Under the newly expanded scheme announced by the Government this week, building contractors will be able to acquire and refurbish vacant and derelict properties directly before selling them on to the local authorities or approved housing bodies, AHBs, for social housing. Previously, only the local authorities and the AHBs could deliver the scheme under the programme.

I have received correspondence from Revenue, dated 6 February, in relation to the derelict sites. As a result of an announcement by the Minister of Finance in budget 2026, responsibility for the collection of the derelict sites taxes will rest with Revenue. We also know it may take until 2027 to get that scheme running. People are now on notice - I suggest this be called a tax amnesty - that from now until the beginning of 2027, if they are in the ownership of derelict sites or derelict and empty properties, they have a 12-month window to engage in this scheme and other imaginative schemes to revitalise derelict sites and property. We need these properties to get housing for all.