Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was not going to speak this morning as I just wanted to listen. I chair the housing committee and many of its members were here this morning. I recognise the ongoing work and commitment of the members of the committee, week in and week out. We work in a collaborative fashion and we never make the committee a political forum. It is the best way to deal with the crisis before us. I have heard many others speak in the Chamber this morning. Any Member is entitled to attend any committee meeting in these Houses and we would very much welcome attendance of the committee in order that people could bring their ideas and solutions. Some of the speeches this morning did not have solutions and I heard some headlines for the media.

Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Catherine Martin, who served with me on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, are aware that direct build was withdrawn from the local authorities as the funding was not there. Time and time again I have said that when building stops the supply stops and inevitably a crisis will occur. I do not want to go back over causes of the deep recession Ireland had and who was at fault because this will not build any house for any family in the State.

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