Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the Tánaiste did not answer my questions. On the fiscal rules on housing, I refer to the agreement between the Government and the Fianna Fáil Party. In the first line of the section on the economy, it states, "Maintain our commitment to meeting in full the domestic and EU fiscal rules as enshrined in law." Let us contrast this commitment with the statement in the report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness that the financing of "social housing by the State is restrained, as is all public expenditure, by the EU fiscal rules". We cannot resolve the housing crisis or use the money we have to build homes within the framework of the fiscal rules. It is a choice of obeying the rules or resolving the crisis and the Government should choose to resolve the crisis.

On water, will the Tánaiste confirm that the Government will invoke the exemption contained in Article 9.4 as part of its second river basin management plan? This will be crucial in allowing the Dáil the possibility of making a decision.

I also want an answer to my question about the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada. This is an extremely serious matter as it will result in the contravention of the Constitution if the agreement is provisionally applied and provides for the right of companies to sue states for interfering with their right to profit. One example is the case taken by the Lone Pine company under the North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA, against Canada in response to a moratorium on fracking. CETA would restrain our ability to implement legislation in the interests of workers, consumers and the environment in favour of corporate profit. It cannot be applied and the Government must take a position on the matter at the European Council. Which way will it vote?

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