Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps the Minister should check the Official Report for what the Minister for Education and Skills actually said.

I ask him to imagine a 25 yer old woman sitting across the room from him as opposed to a group of members. Fine Gael entered office when she was 18 and has been in power for seven years. In spite of the woman having educational qualifications and ambitions for what she wants to do in life, she cannot afford to buy or rent and is forced to live at home with her parents. She is sick of the discussion of this issue and is seriously considering becoming involved with the Take Back the City campaign. Fine Gael has been in power for seven years, since the woman was 18. What would the Minister say to such a woman if he were looking at her across the table?