Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I dtús báire, ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Níl aon bhaint ag an méid atá ráite aici leis an bhfírinne. Níl suim ag an Teachta leis an bhfírinne, áfach. Is é atá i gceist ag an Teachta, agus Páirtí Shinn Féin, ná a bheith i gcoinne gach aon chinneadh a dhéanann an Rialtas, gan aon pholasaí soiléir dá chuid féin a chur os comhar an phobail. Is é sin bun agus barr an méid atá ráite ag an Teachta McDonald. Ní aontaím léi.

Just because the Deputy keeps on saying untruths does not make them truth. The fundamental reality is that existing tenants will stay and their rents will be capped at 2%. That is clear. Any new tenancies after 1 March 2026, after this legislation, will be capped by the CPI. That is also very clear. The Deputy has sought to sow confusion. Of course, she condemned this over the weekend, before she even saw the detail of the plan. During the past couple of months, she declared RPZs would be eliminated. She did not expect this package of measures.

There comes a stage when Deputy McDonald needs to start proposing solutions, because supply is the bottom line here. This is a balanced package of measures which protects existing tenants but gives policy certainty to them and to investment and investors, which is required to dramatically increase the supply of housing and apartments in the country, to get from 30,000 to 50,000 per annum for a sustained period of time. I see nothing in anything the Deputy has proposed that would go anywhere near trying to attempt to increase supply of apartments and supply of housing.

I listened to her this morning and it was all bluff and bluster on "Morning Ireland".

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