Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Remember the ghost estates. Remember the 100,000 people who left the country because of the collapse of the financial services and because of the collapse of the construction sector. That is why, and that is where it happened. A Tánaiste stood over here and said that we needed no more taxes because the construction sector was going to drive the whole lot for us - remember that? - and stunted the market completely. That is the reason for it and the Deputy knows that very well.

If one cannot deal with supply, one cannot deal with the upward pressure on rents. I agree that we need more landlords and tenants. We have to do something in respect of the cost of building. That is why the Minister put up €200 million for the opening up of sites that are currently not accessible to local authorities or private builders.

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