Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The first thing I want to address is the Deputy’s statement that multinationals do not believe us any more. The relationship between this Government and companies providing foreign direct investment in Ireland has never been stronger. That is why we are seeing the kind of corporation tax revenue streams we see this year and which are predicted for next year and the year after. Ireland is a country in which multinationals have extraordinary confidence. The faith they have in what this Government is doing around enterprise policy has never been stronger. We now have over 300,000 people employed by US multinationals across the country, many in the county the Deputy and I come from. That is combined with the dynamic enterprise sector in Ireland of Irish companies that are growing and expanding. The combined clients of IDA and Enterprise Ireland employ well over 500,000 people.

Housing is an issue but the multinational sector is talking to us and believes what we are doing and saying on housing. We are dramatically increasing supply. That is the answer here. We are also for the first time in decades introducing real affordable housing schemes. For the first time ever in Ireland we are introducing cost-rental schemes at scale. It is only starting. The Deputy is right that we did not meet certain targets last year but these are brand new types of schemes with new legislation required and delivered to ensure they stand up. The Deputy will see a dramatic acceleration this year of affordable housing schemes. I can name them: in Ardrostig in Bishopstown, in Fingal, in Athlone and more besides. The Deputy cannot judge the delivery of affordable housing on one year.

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