Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A fellow Kildare man of the Ceann Comhairle, Christy Moore, sang, "I'm an ordinary man, nothing special, nothing grand." The lyrics of the song go on to mention the importance of house ownership.

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In addition to the issue that Deputy O'Dea has raised, aside from those who are homeless in all our constituencies there are people in trepidation of their properties being repossessed. We can talk about introducing legislation to sort out a crisis. Would the Taoiseach support a motion in this House calling on the banks and the vulture funds to desist from what they are doing and to offer those properties with distressed mortgages which are suitable to local authorities to be purchased at the same knockdown prices for which they are being offered?

We are taking one step forward and two steps back. Louth County Council has been lauded for its compulsory purchase orders, bringing in excess of 100 housing units back into stock. The reality is that Louth County Council now has no money for repairs and is boarding up almost a similar number of houses. In order to put some pressure on the vulture funds and banks, without needing legislation, these properties should be offered to the local authorities at the same knockdown prices.

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