Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Matthews as ucht an chuiridh. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis as a phost nua mar Chathaoirleach an choiste. Tá áthas orm a bheith ar ais anseo leis an gcoiste mar Aire ar a bhfuil freagracht as tithíocht, rialtas áitiúil agus oidhreacht. Is mór an onóir dom é. Tá a lán obair thábhachtach á déanamh againn. Táim ag tnúth leis an obair sin a dhéanamh ar mhaithe ár muintir.

I would like to thank the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to appear before the committee today. Having served on this committee, it is a great honour to return as Minister for this important portfolio. I look forward to working with all members of the committee in a constructive way. We face big challenges in the area of housing and we may have differences of opinion from time to time, which I think is healthy. I do not have all the answers, nor does anyone here, but we are charged with working together for the good of the people, and I am committed to doing so.

As the Cathaoirleach previously mentioned, my statement has been circulated to members. It would take longer than five minutes for me to deliver the statement, so I will not go through it now. However, if there are elements within the statement or questions that we do not get to today, members should submit them to my office or approach me directly.

I will now outline some of the main points of the statement. It concerns the Revised Estimates for public services for this full year 2020. Obviously, having taken over at the end of June, there are elements within it which were not under my immediate control for the early part of the year. Once the committee has agreed its work programme, there will be another opportunity for me to advise members of the Government priorities in line with the programme of Government, which I am sure all members have read cover to cover. If they have not they have an opportunity to do so in the meantime. Perhaps Deputy Ó Broin got somebody else to read it for him, or he might have done it himself, particularly the Housing for All section.