Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is fair enough. I am not holding you responsible, a Cheann Comhairle. I am simply saying that it has happened repeatedly in the Chamber and in my view it is not a fair political charge. I believe it is completely out of order. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government is very straight and honest in everything he does. Two things arise. First, it is not something he would do. Second, it is certainly not something he can do. Either way, it is wrong and it cannot be repeated in the Chamber. I have listened to this too often. We are in the Chamber genuinely trying to solve problems and work together to make changes. Everyone else has the respect to do the job properly. Some go too far and cannot do it right. That does not achieve anything for anyone. I certainly cannot stand in the House as the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and not tackle the matter. I will not accept it. It is not good enough. Above anyone else, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is transparent in everything he is doing when it comes to the figures as is the Department. Everything we have done in recent years has been done with complete and utter openness in this House and the same applies in the committee. Anyone has access to any of us here to go through any figures or facts. There is no hiding or messing. We do not do any of that whatsoever. It is clear and transparent. Therefore, it is wrong for Deputy Barry to go down that road. I am disappointed that he would do that, but that is typical of the person he seems to be.

Other issues were raised. Deputy Mattie McGrath speaks and then runs out the door before I get to answer back, as is usual. That is what he does; he throws something out and then runs away. Obviously, it is the same but he does it repeatedly. Again, he said that we are trying to cod people and make up figures and do everything else. That is not true. Others have managed to add to his comments since then.

Local authorities are asked to deliver houses any which way they can, whether by turnkey, acquisition, voids, new-build or lease houses. All these strands are needed. It is all required in the pot. All our figures clearly show what is delivered under each bracket. No one is codding or hiding or moving at all.

An attempt was made to say the Department was caught out. That is baloney. I listened to the commentator in question again this morning. The same commentator told lies about me last week. Deputies should cop on to themselves. They should stop listening to and believing the commentators who say stuff without ever checking it. They never ask the questions but they make their livelihood out of commentary without ever checking with the Department what is true or false. Yet, some Deputies come to the Chamber and quote it as if it is gospel. It is not true and there is no codding anyone. We have asked local authorities to do turnkey. In fact, local authorities have asked us to do it. It works both ways. We have asked local authorities to provide leasing, direct build and acquisition. They need to keep going, do more and scale up, as Deputy Burton has said. That is what we want them to do as quickly as possible. We all want that.

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