Dáil debates

Thursday, 14 April 2016

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed)

 

5:05 pm

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I take exception, as one of the Independents 4 Change Deputies, to being told that we are sitting here not participating, particularly by the Labour Party, but also by other parties in this House. It has been about seven weeks since the election, and seven is usually a significant number. It was considered the age of reason for a very long time, certainly throughout my childhood, and we talk about the seven ages of man. It is usually associated with insight, but I have seen no insight from either of the big political parties here.

I have waited, watched and participated and I have not heard or seen one single policy document to deal with the housing crisis. I am not about to throw out figures because I am sick and tired of figures being thrown out. Let me quote a short paragraph for the attention of the House from somebody who is not known as a radical leftist, John O'Connor, chief executive of the Housing Agency. In it he states: "Affordable, high-quality housing provision will reduce poverty and inequality, improve quality of life, increase international competitiveness, increase disposable income, and will have a bigger impact on the lives of more citizens than almost any other policy intervention". Yet we have no policy document on housing. We have Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil talking about mechanisms of co-operation, that is, how they will save face.

A female Deputy to my right, who has since left the Chamber, talked about leaving egos behind. That is exactly what this is about, it is about two egos in competition, finding mechanisms to work with each other, but there is no policy document on housing. It is a disgrace that we have not listened to people such as Fr. Peter McVerry and all of the non-governmental organisations that have called for the recognition of a national emergency in housing, because that is what we face. Why do we have it? Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are part of the problem and, unfortunately, so was Labour. Under Labour and Fine Gael, the most fundamental change in housing policy was brought in under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, which introduced the housing assistance payment. Once in receipt of the payment, one was considered adequately housed - in private accommodation and with no security of tenure - and removed from the waiting list. I understand there was very little discussion-----

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