Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Arising from my experience in 1995, the Deputy would not expect me to respond on budget-related matters. I resigned on that occasion and did not get much sympathy from the Deputy or anyone else. Therefore, I will not walk into that again.

The State was not liable in regard to this matter, but I decided that the Government and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government of the day should feel in some way responsible for helping homeowners. That is what I am doing. No other Minister had contemplated this previously.

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