Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I am surprised the Minister of State with responsibility for housing would not have taken time to watch a programme — well signalled in advance — dealing with an issue so central to housing policy. I am also surprised the extensive media monitoring units, available to the Government at the expense of the taxpayer, did not do the job for him so he could address the issue today. Instead, he has kicked to touch and stated it is the responsibility of other Departments.

The Labour Party proposed a Bill over five years ago to regulate the housing market, which was shot down by the Government. We have brought a number of private members' proposals before the House which dealt with taking charge of unfinished housing estates and the regulation of housing management companies and management charges, all of which were shot down by a Government that promised to do something in the future. After ten years in office, is it acceptable that the Government allows the scandalous rip-off that we saw demonstrated on television last night? Young people trying to buy a home of their own are being ripped off by unscrupulous chancers who have licence to do as they like from a Government which seems more interested in keeping some people's pockets full than protecting the consumer interests of home buyers.

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