Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Okay, there is consensus on that. That is good. If there is consensus on that, why would the figure of 30% of net income not be the measure of that? That is the part that I do not understand. One could make the argument that for flexibility one might go a bit higher than that or something, but I would have thought that it is a key point to be agreed, there should be consensus on that and therefore the amendment should be supported.

I understand the points that Deputy Duffy made about cost rental being full cost recovery. That is absolutely a valid point. I agree with him when he asserted that assumably the State will step in when there is a need to fill that gap. However, by us passing the amendment rather than assuming or hoping that the State will step in, it will mean that as a committee, we are actually looking for the State to step in if necessary. It is also linked to arguments made by Deputy Ó Broin that we do need to look at the cost of full delivery and trying to get that down. It is an ongoing challenge. I see heads nodding, so there seems to be agreement on that point. I am left not understanding why we are not agreeing to the amendment.