Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The experience in the UK does not suggest that that will happen. Affordable housing is an important ambition and initiative but there are challenges around it. In terms of serviced sites, for example, that is taking more time than people would have thought in terms of getting off the ground but there are schemes that are in position in terms being developed. People do need to have access to affordable housing in this country. In addition, there needs to be a strong social housing building programme. Unfortunately, during Covid-19, house building was reduced. Construction generally was reduced. In European terms, because of the lockdown and the closure of construction, employment in construction here decreased more than it did anywhere else across Europe, although one has to caveat that by saying there is a difficulty sometimes in comparing numbers across member states. Overall, as can be seen from the ESRI study the domestic economy took a big hit during the lockdown. The multinational sector has been robust. It has been of huge benefit to the country in terms of economic resilience, in terms of employment and in terms of supporting the overall needs of the economy, which members across the House should acknowledge and take on board in terms of the ideological positions they articulate from time to time.

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