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

Deputy Paul Murphy spoke about public governance challenges on climate. My language has always been temperate. The comments I made yesterday were in good faith in terms of a public debate. This Government has brought in a groundbreaking climate change Bill that sets very strong challenges. The context of my remarks is that we need to bring people with us. I have concerns about divisions arising around this. That is my main point. We cannot suppress political commentary on these matters either, because they are important. The overarching objective is to get that legislation not only passed but that it would be a catalyst for change within the different sectors of the economy that must change to ensure a sustainable future and that we meet very challenging climate change targets. I have concerns around that in terms of how matters are evolving and how the debate is evolving in that regard. My language has been far more temperate than the Deputy's. He needs to reflect on his own language and the name-calling he goes on with on an ongoing basis and attempting to pigeonhole people into particular corners. I have no intention of going down that particular route.

In response to Deputy Barry, €300 million has been made available in Cork city under the urban regeneration and development fund. It is designed to make sure the quays can be ready to take residential development so that we can have compact cities and bring life and residential life back into the cities. That funding is reflected across the country. That is what the Government is attempting to do.

The Deputy talked about a massive programme of social housing. The Government has announced, and committed to, a very significant programme of social housing. It will be challenging to get that done through local authorities, commission the builders and get the work done. I am not clear on the mechanisms the Deputy would suggest in terms of doubling or trebling that or the wherewithal with regard to doing so. It is grand to just shout it out in the Chamber but I have never seen anything from him or from anybody in terms of working it through as a detailed plan. It just does not exist.

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