Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I recognise the changed landscape to which the Minister referred, but I wish the Government would recognise that that change is taking place in the middle of a housing crisis. There seems to be a refusal by every member of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party to recognise that a large part of the accommodation problem has to do with the disgraceful housing crisis in which we have found ourselves. It is giving rise to decent people supporting far-right rhetoric because they have been ten, 12 or 15 years on the housing list and are confused about who gets what in this society. I do not blame them one bit for that. I blame nasty and hateful far-right leaders, but not ordinary people who are confused by the situation. I blame the Government for not recognising this factor. There are Government Deputies - not necessarily Green Party ones, but Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ones - talking about pull factors and problems with north African men. They need to shut up and deal with this situation decently through a true cross-party Government effort that examines the matter urgently. There are many ways to handle matters and the situation should not be handled in this slipshod way. There needs to be more urgency and co-ordination.

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