Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I supported it. It is a measure that needs to be implemented. Will the Taoiseach revisit the amendment he rushed through the House in Christmas week 2002 and restore the original intent and purpose of the 1999 Act? This "get out" clause is making an absolute ass of the entire intent, if it was real from day one. I remind the Taoiseach of what the then Minister said on that day. He stated: "The plan will lead to an additional 35,000 local authority units, an increase in the voluntary housing sector provision of houses from 500 a year to 4,000 a year and an increase to 2,000 units per year under the current local authority affordable housing and shared ownership schemes". If only any of that were true.

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