Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It suits the Deputy for party political purposes to emote on what is a serious issue. His own party was in government for over a decade and did not address this issue. His party took the view that housing and accommodation issues are matters for local authorities and for the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Deputy's emoting does not change that situation. The Department of Defence cannot assume a housing provision mandate. What the Department of Defence can do is be supportive of the charitable organisation ONE. Of course I would welcome if that organisation, as a charitable body, was able to raise funding to provide additional hostel facilities. The Deputy expects that a magic wand can be waved and he disavows any responsibility for this situation during his many years in this House while supporting his colleagues in government who took the same approach. There is a significant credibility gap between what the Deputy says on behalf of his party and what it did during the years when it dominated the Government.

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