Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I am not asking the Minister for a magic want but rather a political commitment and a decision to build homes. We do not have that. This year, the number of homes due to be built or acquired was 1,400 and next year, it is 1,500. That is our great response to this housing crisis that has put politicians under so much pressure. That is a question of supply but because of an absence of units, with people forced into the private rental market, people trapped and forced into homelessness because of massive spiralling rents.

A magic wand is not required but a political decision is required to implement rent controls. The Minister has been blocked and even his minimal version of rent control has been stopped by Fine Gael. The Labour Party is simply going to accept that the landlord and developer profits and NAMA's rehabilitation of developers will take precedence over the right of people to have homes.

See this speech in context