John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This will have a knock-on effect on the private market and the rent pressures will ease.

Before coming to the Chamber, I watched the contributions of previous speakers on the monitor in my office. I heard Deputy Cullinane tear strips off Fianna Fáil for its housing policy. As mentioned earlier by the Taoiseach, on Monday night last Sinn Féin voted against a development in Dublin comprising 1,000 affordable, social and private houses. As far as I am concerned, one cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hound. One cannot be all things to all people. Fianna Fáil is not afraid of taking difficult decisions or of responsibility. Unfortunately, as far as I am concerned, Sinn Féin can get off the pitch when it comes to housing because it will not make a difficult decision and it will not deliver one house. When it comes to the politics of hypocrisy, I will not listen to it.

I do not like hearing about the decline of rural Ireland as if it is happening everywhere. There are issues with rural Ireland. I live in a rural area and I am aware of those issues but constantly talking rural Ireland down does not serve it well. According to the census, populations in the vast majority of areas in rural Ireland are growing. There may no longer be 20 small shops in particular areas but there are two large shops employing more people than the 20 shops they replaced. This is the way of the world now. While there are issues with rural Ireland, and I will fight to retain as many services as we can, I am tired of some Deputies, particularly those who come from the county, talking down Kerry. Kerry and other rural counties are fine places to live. As long as we strive to deliver projects for all counties they will remain so.

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