Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the context of the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill which is promised, and given the Tánaiste's dismissal of the points raised by Deputy Ó Cuív this morning and by Simon Communities Ireland, are we now to conclude that social housing is no longer a red-line issue for the Labour Party? Does she as readily dismiss the points made by a person who is very well known to her, namely, Mr. Mike Allen of Focus Ireland, who called this morning for an increase in rent caps?

When might we expect to have sight of the housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill?

On the last day the Tánaiste took Leaders' Questions, we raised the issue of the Dunnes Stores dispute and she promised legislation in this area. I suggested to her at that time that she might lift the telephone and talk to Margaret Heffernan, which I doubt she has done, but I again suggest she would do that. In the meantime Members of this House have recently met the groups of unions representing Bord na Móna workers who now find themselves in a position where their terms of employment are under threat by a company that is profit-making, a company the management of which is no doubt emboldened by what it sees happening in Dunnes Stores. Will the legislation the Tánaiste promised to bring forward address the issues that are now arising for Bord na Móna workers? Will she ask her colleague, the Minister, Deputy Alex White, to intervene in this particular matter?

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