Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Deputy Ó Broin on bringing forward this Bill. At the end of the day, it is about protecting people in homelessness and putting in place structures and strategies such that people are not appearing in local authority offices saying that their notice to quit expires that day and they are homeless. This has been the procedure and the policy until now.

I welcome the decision of the Government and the Minister to support this Bill, but not the Minister's back-handed compliments and criticism of it. Let us be clear, Fianna Fáil caused the housing crisis. Let us call a spade a spade. The reason there are 10,000 people in homeless accommodation is that Fianna Fáil bankrupted the country, ceased the building of social housing and refused to support the local authorities to do so. I had hoped to be constructive in my remarks-----

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