Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I always welcome the opportunity to speak about the unforgivable shortage of housing in this city and the rest of the country, and in turn, the unenviable and unacceptable position of renters. I welcome the opportunity provided by the Opposition to highlight again the real experience of renters, the lack of security of tenure, the uncertainty, the disproportionate percentage of rental cost relative to their income and the failed housing policies pursued for the past nine years rather than providing public housing for everyone. We know affordable housing ultimately benefits each individual in society, communities, as well as improving the competitiveness of our country.

I do not welcome, however, that this Bill does little to overcome the constitutional advice a ban on rents has faced for some time. I am disappointed the Opposition did not do more work to amend this legislation which is a copy-and-paste version of previous versions. Fianna Fáil facilitated such a version to ensure its implications could be debated.

Bringing this legislation forward gives us all the opportunity to raise the issue but it does little to provide a solution. Just short of eight weeks into the role, the Minister will provide some of the solutions. I look forward to having the details of an affordable rental scheme, an affordable purchase scheme, tenancies of indefinite duration and a rent deposit scheme put before the House, along with the details of the many other commitments in the programme for Government published only 75 days ago.

People voted for a change in the direction of housing policy. The Government has promised this change. Just weeks into the job, the Minister has already pressed go on many of its measures. I welcome again the opportunity to speak about the dysfunctional housing market in Dublin. I look forward to the solutions the Minister will bring forward.

See this speech in context