Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

Yes, I will. The Government should provide €2 billion for the shared ownership scheme. This would make the purchase of a house under the shared ownership scheme conditional on the current price being, say, 30% below the peak price, thus ensuring value for money. If the average purchase price of a house was €300,000 and the owner was to provide 50% of the purchase price, €2 billion would fund the assisted purchase of 13,500 houses, thus significantly reducing the housing waiting lists. The total spend would be approximately €4 billion and, therefore, the VAT generated would be approximately €475 million. This would not solve all our problems but would ensure that the man in the street would derive some benefit from the current low property prices.

Leadership on the economy must be given. Unpleasant decisions must be taken and the people of Ireland are ready and willing to take them if the benefits are explained clearly to them. I am looking for honesty from the Government. It should come out, tell the people what the state of the country is and lay it before them. It should tell them we must take steps A, B, C and D and then we will be out of this mess in three years.

Decisions must be taken quickly to reassure the people and those who might wish to do business with us. Each decision must be explained to the people. Those who are to be targeted in any savings to be made in the running of the country must not be the weak or the vulnerable. The Government must lead, and must be seen to lead, with authority but, most of all, it must be honest with its people.

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