Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister also mentioned yesterday that he does not interrupt people when they speak. I would appreciate it if he would have the courtesy to not do so now.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage told the joint committee that what the Minister said about such housing being used for Ukrainian refugees was not the case. There seem to be mixed messages coming from the Minister and his Department. This caused hurt and confusion among people languishing on the housing list, people stuck in their mothers' and fathers' back bedrooms, people in substandard accommodation and people living in overcrowded dwellings. The Minister can point his finger as much as he wants. He should point the finger at himself and successive Governments that have stood over these policies for a number of years. The people who contacted my office were upset and felt, because of the briefings, that the Government was going to push them further down the list. They thought they would have to endure these living conditions longer. It was pitting one group of marginalised people against another. I had a look at the word "marginalised" and what it means. It used to refer to minority groups that were unable to access basic services or opportunities such as housing. However, they are not smaller minority groups any more. These Government policies the Minister has stood over have ensured that. These minorities and socially excluded people will no longer be silent.

Thousands of Ukrainian people will land on our shores over the next while. We must be able to look after them as best we can, as much as we will look after the people who are currently victims of the social housing policy the Government has stood over.

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