Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Thankfully the housing crisis and the issues causing it are at the top of the agenda this week. Statistics have been quoted by all sides over recent days and they are irrefutable. The housing policy of Fine Gael and this Government since 2016, and the previous Fine Gael-led Government from 2011 to 2016, has been acknowledged as a failure. Unfortunately, ordinary people are suffering as a result. However, it should come as no surprise to us that Fine Gael has taken this attitude to housing. The attitude of the previous Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, to the vulture funds when he allowed them to come into the country unregulated was telling. Instead of defending the ordinary people, he viewed the vulture funds as serving a role in our economy, despite the manner in which they treat people around the country. His attitude was cold and heartless and this same attitude has pervaded through this Government, which has allowed a failed housing policy to go unchecked despite the suffering of the people of this country. Ultimately, however, the people will be the arbiters of this Government. They will have their opportunity in the, thankfully, not-too-distant future.

In the meantime, it is our responsibility to offer solutions to the problem. Supporting home ownership must be a Government priority. However, Fine Gael has seen a fall of ownership levels to the lowest in half a century, with a generation excluded from ownership. All the while, Sinn Féin, Solidarity and People Before Profit have not supported any efforts to boost home ownership levels. The Government must do more to assist people to get out of the rip-off rental market. The Government must start delivering on housing. After six separate plans and a dozen launches, it needs to put bricks and mortar on the ground. While other parties grandstand with motions and Bills that will not build an additional home, Fianna Fáil worked on delivering changes and will continue to hold this Government to account.

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