Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have some serious issues that need to be resolved in Ireland right now regarding homelessness, housing, the challenges of child care and poverty. There are continuing challenges in the economy on which we are continuing to work and from which we are getting good results. That is what we should be debating on the first day back, when people are listening to their politicians and leaders. We have had a lengthy break over the summer months and people want to hear what we have to say; they want us solving their problems and not playing the kind of party politics that Deputy Martin is playing with a motion of no confidence that was announced immediately, more or less, after the Fennelly report was published. By the way, that happened the day after it was given to the Taoiseach, and I am not sure if we have ever seen that kind of pace in publishing a report of this complexity. It was an indication that the Taoiseach was anxious to get it out there and deal with the issue as soon as he could.

Instead of judging the report from what is in it, the Deputies opposite are trying to create another political controversy in order to get some negative momentum around the start of a new Dáil term. That is a reflection of where those Deputies are coming from.

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