Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the review of rent supplement limits, is the Minister of State doing anything serious or is it just a PR exercise, given the fact that the Tánaiste slashed rent supplement supports? She could have approached the issue from the other end in that she could have looked at rent caps or limits, or even taken the suggestion made in regard to inflation. However, as I said, her Fine Gael masters will not allow that to happen; therefore, it cannot happen, although we desperately need rent controls as part of the solution.

I welcome the point the Minister of State makes about the protocol, but, unfortunately, these are all tiny steps. My great predecessor in Dublin North-East used to say as Minister, as one of his key themes, if one looks through his various books, that members of the Executive were personally responsible for the suffering that happened within their remit. The suffering of the children in households we represent, for whom there is grave uncertainty about being evicted and who endure terror, is the responsibility of the Ministers opposite and something they should address.

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