David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

Neither I nor my party will take lectures from Fianna Fáil on economics. It crashed the economy and made people's lives a misery. They lost their homes and jobs. The Minister is in no position to come in here and lecture anyone on economics. When he talks about platitudes, I am talking about people who are making tough choices, such as what bills they pay. It is a reality facing those families. The Minister can come in and talk about Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin and Sinn Féin, but he should talk to the people listening who are affected by this. It is one hike after the other and it is the same with the property tax.

The Minister talked about the housing report as if it was some great report for the Government. That report said there will be 15 more years of housing crisis under the Government's watch. Another generation of young people will be locked into a housing crisis and locked out of any chance of having their own home. That is the shameful record of this Government. We cannot take 15 more years. I have asked the Minister a simple question. It is not supermarkets, groceries or insurance companies that have hiked up the property tax; the Government increased it and it can stop the increase. I am asking the Minister to stop it.

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