Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was not elected to this Dáil to play games. Ireland's housing crisis is too serious for political games. Tonight, 142 people are sleeping on the streets outside these Houses. Unlike others, I am not concerned whether Fianna Fáil gets media coverage or high poll ratings week in, week out. Fianna Fáil wants to work to help to solve the crisis in all its forms, including homelessness, rental problems and, ultimately, supply. Fianna Fáil is here to provide solutions to the crisis for the people. We take our responsibility seriously and we are working every day to get the Government to provide workable measures for a range of housing problems. However, solutions must be based in reality and have the support of the people to work.

Our confidence-and-supply agreement with Fine Gael gave the Government the space and time to identify a range of policies that can collectively address what are complex problems relating to housing. However, time is running out. Solutions must be delivered in order to give certainty to tenants and, importantly, allow rental supply to grow. We have tabled an amendment which will ensure that a workable rent certainty measure will be introduced within one month.

Sadly, though, for Sinn Féin, it is all about the headlines. Those in Sinn Féin have no answers in respect of the obvious effects of the Bill. If landlords exit the market, there will be no rental units. We need a comprehensive package of measures. Fianna Fáil will table amendments to the Government proposal to strengthen the position of tenants and allow for growth in a crucial part of the housing market. This debate is nothing more than a stunt designed for headlines. While we disagree on certain policies, surely we can act responsibly and collectively to solve the problem, rather than simply scoring points at the expense of solving the housing crisis. Fianna Fáil is getting on with working on solutions for this long-term problem. We will continue to work for the benefit of all who are suffering as a result of the failure of Government and actions in the past.

See this speech in context