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

I thank all the organisations that are represented here and all their representatives who have come in to give their evidence this morning.

We have the fastest growing economy in Europe, we are told, and the scandal of growing child homelessness in our midst. It is the responsibility of the committee and of the Government to listen to the recommendations that are being made. There are many points that have been made but, clearly, the points about a constitutional right to a home and the points about a major ramping up of the provision of social housing are points that I hope will be reported on by the media in the wake of the hearings this morning.

I have been asked by Deputy Boyd Barrett to forward his apologies.

He had another commitment.

I am not going to put all of my questions together, but will ask them in shorter bursts. That is how I intend to use my time. I will start with a question for Mr. Allen.