Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I hope the Tánaiste will forgive me for saying that there is nothing at all in that answer. I observed your time strictures, Sir, because I merely wanted to know when that legislation would be brought before the House.

There have been grossly scandalous and outrageous excessive profit taking in the housing market, as the Tánaiste will be aware. It has been obscene for a dozen years. The result is that it takes approximately 11 times an annual salary to purchase a house. It is beyond the reach of most people on reasonable incomes. Some 50% of the cost is due to the acquisition of the site.

The Government has this proposition in its programme for Government. The Tánaiste was one of the negotiators. He is speaking like a man who is not all that familiar with it. Does this mean that he is lukewarm? I am not trying to frighten the horses in the Galway tent, seeing that we are coming up to that time of the year, but as Tánaiste and as acting head of Government this morning, he should be able to tell the House when he intends to bring forward these proposals. What is the shape of them? Does Deputy Sargent continue to retain the strong conviction about this issue that he held when on this side of the House? Will we make any attempt to end the rip-off that has been going on in this area and when are we likely to see the shape of the proposals?

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