Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach's policy and his Minister are failing. Supply is, of course, the issue and that is why the Taoiseach should have embraced the ESRI recommendation to double capital investment in the delivery of homes, but he did not do that. His top economist trashed that report. I ask him not to lecture me or anyone else on the Opposition benches on the issue of supply, while simultaneously allowing a high-ranking Government official to undermine the argument for supplying the resources to underpin it. I do not know if the Taoiseach heard the figures I gave to him. There has been a 20% increase in rents in some Connacht counties and an increase of almost 20% in Munster. I have asked the Taoiseach very simply to take actions that would make the world of difference now to the 300,000 renters in this State. I am asking him to introduce measures that will cut their rents now - cut their rents - not allow for a further increase and I have asked him to introduce a measure to ban increases for three years. Here is the truth: that is what needs to needs to happen. I want him to answer straightforwardly whether he will do those two things. Yes or no?

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