Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In fact, my first sentence was: "I thank committee members for inviting me to discuss the important challenges this country must address as regards housing and homelessness." In the rest of my speech I developed that point. The Deputy also referred to the paragraph in which I said: "Unless addressed, it could pose a serious threat to the competitiveness of the economy." She interpreted this as meaning I was only a cold-hearted economic interventionist who had no interest in people, only the economy. However, my next sentence was: "The housing shortage is also giving rise to major social issues, including rising homelessness, driven by pressures in the rental market." It is not true, therefore, that I ignored the issues the Deputy has raised. I addressed them specfically. I then dealt with them from the perspective of the Department of Finance.