Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will relay something to the House. I will not name the Deputy, as it is not polite to do so because he is not here, but I will paraphrase. Philip Ryan recently wrote that a senior Deputy had objected to the proposed development of more than 200 social and affordable housing units on a derelict site in his constituency. The article stated that the Deputy lodged a complaint with the county council over the project in part due to the shadow it would cast over neighbouring social housing. We have a Deputy here complaining to a local authority about a person who wants to build local authority social and affordable housing because it will overshadow somebody else. I have a message for everybody. Send those houses down to Kerry and they can shadow my house, his house or anybody's house because we do not care whose house they shadow once there is a roof over people's heads. If I live forever, I cannot understand how people inside this House, who are sent here to represent people on all issues, including housing, can object to housing being developed in their own constituencies. Philip Ryan wrote this article in the past two to three weeks. It is outrageous and hypocritical. It is blackguarding of the worst type. It is a case of "you can't have your house because my house is here and I'm afraid you'll affect me". How self-centred and arrogant can people be? This is wrong. We want houses for people. These were social and affordable houses that were objected to by a Deputy who is inside this House shouting about housing. It just does not make sense. I have used up all my time in telling the House that but it is a very important message. Could I send out a message to Deputies and Senators? Please stop objecting to people having homes built just because they are in their constituencies and they want to pander to some other sector of society. We are all entitled to a house if we can get it but the only way we can get it is if they are built. If people are objecting to them, it is madness.

See this speech in context