Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have no doubt it was said the Minister is working hard, and we are not disputing that, because I do not really know. What I do know is it is absolutely not working for the people in Mayo. To say we are doing our best is difficult to listen to because the Government designed the system that is not working, in the form of the housing assistance payment, HAP, the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, and everything else, and by privatising the very thing people need, which is their shelter and the roof over their heads. This area was privatised under the Government and it must now own that decision.

I spoke to my son the other day. He named out all of his friends on the local football team and said it is very unlikely - some of the Members present know what football team that is - that they will be able to field a team next year because they will have to emigrate. So many people young people are forced to emigrate because they do not have a roof over their head.

The great tragedy for the Minister is that he and the people sitting beside him do not even realise this. They do not realise how bad the emergency is. Some of the Members there are smiling and that is just absolutely shocking.

See this speech in context