Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If I was to be politically brutally honest I would say that one of Fianna Fáil's mistakes in recent years was to extend the confidence and supply agreement beyond three years. It was probably compounded when we voted confidence in that Government's housing Minister and its housing policy. It did, of course, allow the Opposition the opportunity to portray Fianna Fáil as compliant and complicit in Fine Gael's and Labour's policies since 2011. As we all know, that simply was not the case.

Despite that misrepresentation, we emerged from the election as the largest party with a responsibility to form a Government. We sought to do so and to put in place a programme for Government, while the Opposition ran for the hills when this country needed to overhaul housing policy. That programme for Government prioritised housing. Fianna Fáil insisted on the portfolio of housing. Its responsibility to deliver on a need was offered and afforded to Darragh O'Brien. As Minister he has enacted 22 Acts to date, more than his three predecessors. As was said already by many here, we have record funding for Housing for All, affordable schemes when there was none, cost-rental schemes when there was none, first homes schemes when there was none, and a Land Development Agency that will build public housing on public lands, but the Opposition still opposed it. We extended the help-to-buy scheme, introduced the tax credit for renters, and increased the grant aid available for derelict houses from €50,000 to €80,000 in urban and rural areas. The Minister initiated a development land tax that has a use it, lose it, or pay for it clause associated with it. Whether the Opposition likes it or not, the national target has been met. In my county of Offaly, for example, when councillors from all parties and none sought 470 solutions, they got 580. In Tullamore today 500 homes are being built. Have we it sorted and is it solved? Is it likely to be solved in the very near short future? No. We accept, acknowledge and appreciate that. What are we doing today? On the planning logjam, for example, which is unavoidable and is there for anyone to see, moves are afoot to ensure that at times of crisis and emergency Opposition parties and their own supporters do not object to and hold up housing at this time of crisis.

I just heard Deputy Mairéad Farrell mention the wise men and the time of the year that is in it.

I have listened especially to our colleagues from Sinn Féin and considering its performance in government in the North in recent years, it is akin to the same three wise men getting lost and blaming nobody but the camels.

See this speech in context