Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

We have been innovative and dynamic in our response to the unprecedented circumstances of recent years. Our success has been based on practical interventions. This will remain our focus, centred on addressing the needs of first-time buyers and low income households. It surprised me to hear Deputy Lynch say she repaid her mortgage over 15 years because I repaid mine over 25 years. I accept that many mortgages are now taken out for 35 years but affordability can be as important as house prices. The key issue is the percentage of take home pay spent on mortgages and, while that proportion has risen over the past 30 years, it has not increased by the same multiples as house prices.

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