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

It can be difficult to disprove a motion of no confidence in three minutes listening to the heckling that is going on here. One would almost feel like a contestant on "Countdown". I will get straight to it.

The majority of the Opposition is piggybacking on the genuine fears and concerns of very vulnerable people. It has created an unhelpful caricature of the evil landlord. Many others, even in the press, have lapped this up. The eviction ban was always meant to be temporary. I do not dispute that we remain in a housing emergency or crisis. We have already heard from Government speakers about the record funding and various initiatives implemented by the Government. I will not repeat them, but I contend that the full fruits of that labour are continuing to emerge.

The crisis is, of course, at a crucial juncture. Planning logjams vis-à-visthe lack of statutory timelines for An Bord Pleanála and the overuse and abuse of judicial review processes have to be addressed in the upcoming planning and development (amendment) Bill, which is overdue. The crisis relating to elections is, of course, immediate. We all agree on that. Given that fact, one would think Opposition Members would assist their councillor colleagues by exerting influence on councils to respond positively to the Government's recent instructions and demands for councils to purchase units impacted by eviction notices, allowing tenants to remain in situ, and applying that policy to those who are or are not on housing lists. That is the solution.

Keeping or extending the ban is not necessarily going to solve this crisis. It is like making sweets free for children. It is fine for a little while, but ultimately detrimental to the greater need. I am working with councillor colleagues in my county, Offaly, to provide that solution for the 20 or so cases that have sought my help, as the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, is doing across the border in Laois. I implore Deputies from all parties, especially Opposition Deputies, to take their responsibilities seriously and do likewise in their respective constituencies.

No matter low late that solution came to the table, no matter how frustrating it might have been for many that the Department's circular is not as strong as it has been in the past week, it is a solution.

The Opposition has had three weeks on this. It has versed and voiced its anger-----

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