Mr. Michael Carey:

I agree that it is an enormous challenge. There are issues at every strand of this problem that need to be addressed from homelessness through to social housing provision, affordability of rent and purchasing of mortgage arrears. The Housing Agency has a real and substantial role to play in all those areas. Ensuring there is absolute clarity about what the agency is supposed to be delivering and that it delivers it in an efficient and effective way will become my obsession. I have spent time with the homeless agencies and on the streets on the soup runs. I really care about this issue and I want to be part of the solution at that level. There are huge issues around affordability that the country needs to resolve for lots of reasons, including business and social reasons.

The pricing of homes going out of the reach of so many people is such a fundamental problem facing the country that it must be resolved. I wholeheartedly commit to coming back when those views are more robust, and when there is some greater clarity on the scope and role I believe the agency should have and how it should be delivering. I will apply those business approaches and those techniques that have worked in other areas for me, including in Government agencies. I will apply them in this area to the best of my ability.