Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is little purpose served by taking apart the reality of the Labour Party's tactics and demanding a confidence vote. All I will say is that when I hear the loud words of attack on us in relation to housing, I cannot help quoting aspects and the last policy on renters outlined in a Labour Party manifesto. The Labour Party made this commitment: "We will also seek to create the regulated, stable rental market that institutional investors, such as pension funds, require to provide significant rental units." It supported pension funds' engagement in the rental market, subsequently demonised them and so forth.

The pledge of 1 million houses last week lacked any credibility. It was very quickly qualified by the leader of the Labour Party who stated that it would be 50-50 between new builds and refurbishments.

While the Opposition is dominated by those who claim to speak up for workers, it is becoming quite dramatic how often workers are ignored by the left when it is attacking the Government. Even in budget debates, the Irish left has fallen silent about employment and the economy and has no policy on social supports other than to wait for the latest announcement and demand more. When the Government took up office, it was faced with the largest pandemic and fastest-moving recession in modern history. In area after area, we have showed real leadership in saving lives and livelihoods in our country. We implemented ambitious and urgent policies, which have made a significant and positive impact - often in the face of sniping from the Opposition and demands for policies that would have caused real damage. The Opposition does not think these are important enough to even mention. This morning, there are over 436,000 more people at work than there were on the day the Government took office. Unemployment has been dramatically cut and good jobs are being created in every part of the country. An unprecedented 70% of new jobs have been created outside Dublin. At the same time, employment opportunities for women are at a record high while youth unemployment is at a record low. Youth unemployment in Ireland is the lowest in the EU. To the Opposition, this is unimportant. They are the only self-declared left-wing parties in Europe that have nothing to say about employment creation.

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