Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Deputy Brian Hayes's comment that this is the most significant issue facing the Dáil, in its debates, and broader society. Last night, I listened to the opening remarks of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter. To say the least, it was abusive and insulting that such an important issue could have been so trivialised. We have come forward with proposals that we believe are genuine and honest in their interpretation. Their purpose is to address the difficulties families are facing throughout the country. Despite this, we were given a lesson in the history of the problem. I accept that my team was on the pitch but, by God, the cheerleaders and pom-poms were very much on the Opposition side at the time in question also. Time and again, people criticised the fact that the banks were not lending enough through mortgages, and it was argued that stamp duty should be removed to further inflate property prices. We need a very honest debate on this issue. We can look to the historical record to see who was right and wrong.

Fianna Fáil is being told continually that it should have seen the problem coming. The Minister for Justice and Equality is very forceful in that regard. He has a property portfolio that would put NAMA to shame. Throughout the 14 years in office of the previous Government, the Minister was investing in properties. He is a landlord of major importance and has properties in Florida, London and Dublin. He has properties all over the place.

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