Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In summing up this debate I pay tribute to and thank those who have contributed, in the main, to it. The role of all of us here, based on the mandate we have been given by the electorate, is to produce and enact legislation which can address the difficulties and the issues pertaining to those we represent in various areas across society. As Opposition Members our job is to hold Government to account, offer constructive criticism, offer alternative policies and mechanisms by which the Government may do its job more effectively, and initiate debate in order for that to be the case, and a collective informed decision is made by the House thereafter for the betterment of those we represent. In this instance the issue relates to the affordability and supply of housing and the immediacy of the difficulties that exist for those in the rental sector, and our combined responsibility then is to initiate legislation which can address the issues that exist.

Some members of the Government immediately revert to type and tribalism and seek to enter into the blame game, as Deputy Dooley has said. He did not wish to go into it in any great detail, nor do I. I was not in this House in 2007, but every time we seek to speak on behalf of those we have been given the privilege to represent I am mindful of the defensive attitude, particularly of Fine Gael Members, during the course of this debate. Deputy Ellis from Sinn Féin also seemed to pick up a stick to beat Fianna Fáil back into our chairs and say that based on the policy we pursued we have no right, despite our mandate achieved in 2011, to stand up in this House and offer solutions.

It was with that in mind that I have been familiarising myself over many months with the 2007 Fine Gael manifesto. Anybody who wishes to check it now on the website will be somewhat disappointed, because it states: "Page Not Found". That is convenient for those who wish to check out the situation. Thankfully, over recent months-----

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