Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The difference is that we would have kept people who are now homeless in houses, on a temporary basis, while new houses were being delivered. The Government is not doing that. The Government's help-to-buy scheme and other schemes do not meet people's needs. What we need is a public housebuilding programme. The eviction ban should be kept in place while that is getting up and running. The need for an eviction ban would then decline because houses would be built and the need would be met. Unfortunately, the Government will not do what I am suggesting. That is the sad reality of the situation. If the Government is proved to be wrong in a couple of months' time, will it reverse its decision? I do not think so.

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