Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach shows tendencies similar to one of his predecessors, the former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. I often argued with him across the floor and he suffered regular bouts of amnesia as he described the terrible problems in society to the House. He made no connection between these problems and the fact that he had been in charge for years. Will the Taoiseach please remind himself of his position as leader of this country? It is his responsibility if there is a huge level of homelessness, which there is.

I had hoped we would address the matter of infrastructure, because the biggest infrastructural need is the need for new homes. The Taoiseach spoke a great deal on this topic but in answer to the wrong question. I will now shame the Taoiseach. Is he aware that 6,000 local authority homes were built in 1973 and 8,700 in 1975? He is responsible for the building of only a few hundred. Is it any wonder there is a crisis?

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