Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

The fact that approximately 50,000 families are on housing waiting lists means that approximately 150,000 individuals are waiting for reasonable local authority accommodation. In effect, the proposed constitutional amendment is a smokescreen to distract the electorate from the dishonest promises that were made at the last general election and the breaking of those promises over the last two years. I expect the public will see this proposal for what it is — a smokescreen to cover the PDs and Fianna Fáil during the local and European election campaigns. One has to smile when one recalls that the Minister, Deputy McDowell, went up a lamppost during the last election to put up a poster saying "One-Party Government — No Thanks".

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