Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude on a sad note. In respect of the meeting today with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, we are here since 10.30 a.m. and nobody has mentioned the issue of homelessness. It is a sad reflection on the witnesses' side of the table and this side of the table that we have gone from morning to 6.30 p.m. without that word being mentioned once. It was not mentioned in an opening statement. I know there is a lot of nitty-gritty detail to be dealt with but I found it a bit depressing. That word is written in front of me all day. I have waited to hear it until now. We have got through a full meeting without it being mentioned. I am not pointing at the witnesses but it is remiss on the part of everybody here that we could go through what is effectively a full day meeting the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Environment without anyone mentioning the issue of homelessness. There is a lesson to be learned from that, and I will let people take whatever lesson they want from it, but the fact that the matter was not mentioned speaks volumes. Mr. McCarthy can understand my point.