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

As I stated, of all the sectors of the economy, the development and property sector is the one which has been most difficult to restore to normality, if we can define "normality". When we look at the cranes on the Dublin skyline, we can see that the commercial property construction and development market has been restored to reasonable health in the past two years or so, but, as we all agree, the residential property construction and development market is still very fragile. It is well short of supplying the needs of citizens. If I were to accept Deputy Pearse Doherty's proposal, I would stop property development stone dead from this evening and nothing would be built until we received the report. I am not prepared to do that. The property construction and development markets are moving along and being repaired. More houses will be built this year than last year and there will be significantly more built next year. I hope the scheme we are discussing will contribute to the construction of extra new homes for first-time buyers. I am not prepared to introduce an evaluation now which would stop all activity.