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

As I have said already, housing is the number one issue. It was not, in any shape or form, a deliberate attempt to mislead people. I have quoted those who early in the year and mid-year were predicting close to 40,000, such as EY-Euroconstruct, Deutsche Bank and Cairn Homes.

Others, by the way, in other years the Deputy identified, underestimated the number of houses that were subsequently built. That is something Deputy O'Callaghan has not spoken of. We exceeded our targets in 2022 and in 2023, which the Deputy dismissed at the time. The Deputy engaged in significant political commentary as opposed to at least acknowledging the fact we exceeded targets in 2022 and 2023.

I also have to put it to the Deputy that, throughout the past four years, his party's policy position was to oppose significant legislation and initiatives that led to increased housing, particularly on the affordable side. They opposed the Land Development Agency Act, the Affordable Housing Act and the planning Act. You have shown no sense of urgency around the housing crisis. I believe the Deputy has been too ideologically wedded to certain fundamentals-----

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