Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A comment was passed that this is Sinn Féin policy. This is not just a Sinn Féin recommendation. It is partly a Sinn Féin recommendation and the Social Democrats and Labour Party have a similar recommendation. We know other parties, groups and Independents support the removal of the shared equity scheme from the affordable housing Bill. These are contradictory terms. I am new to the Chamber but we have seen how insertions can be made to Bills that should not happen and this provision should not be in this Bill. As Senator Moynihan indicated, we attended meetings where experts were brought before the committee. I am trying to learn all the time and from our meetings I understand that this measure will not provide affordable housing.

The Government parties contend that this will increase supply but it will not. It will increase prices and that will have a negative effect on affordability. If we wanted to increase supply, we should not have driven hundreds of thousands of people from the country because we introduced austerity measures. I have friends and family in Australia, America and Canada and they are only there because Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party introduced austerity measures.