Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A number of questions have been asked and a number of charges have been made. I believe in home ownership. Some others do not and that is fine. I believe it is an honest and just aspiration for people to have, and one that the State should support. I am not sure what Deputy Barry has against young people or potential first-time buyers and why he would not want to help them to own their own homes at an affordable rate or for them to be able to rent homes on a secure long-term basis through the new State-backed cost-rental scheme at a lower rate. I am sure that we all want that.

The bulk sale of properties is a legacy issue. It is one which we intend to help to tackle. I do not like seeing funds buying up family homes. I have been very critical of that in the past and I remain critical of it. I want to play my part in providing a solution to it. The market is already constrained. First-time buyers cannot compete with these type of funds. It is as simple as that. The Taoiseach was very clear on the matter, as was the Tánaiste, earlier today.

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