Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yesterday there were reports from the retail sector that sales were down a dramatic 3.7% on the previous month. Consumer confidence is obviously down but the announcement of the weak January figures is concerning given that it is the traditional sales month and there is normally a bounce in January. For example, this time last year there was an increase in sales. The retail sector and IBEC have described the figures as "dismal and disappointing". The 2% increase in VAT announced last December by the Government has added considerable pressure to the industry. The 2% increase in one fell swoop was not a demand from the troika and on this side of the House we warned that it could have a damaging impact on the retail sector and the wider domestic economy.

The Government must take action to stimulate the retail sector and the wider domestic economy. The targets set by the Government of a Revenue yield of €670 million will not be met with these sales figures and this puts a significant doubt on the entire budgetary projections. The impact on sales is negative but the wider impact on jobs is serious indeed and cannot be underestimated. The retail sector employs approximately 240,000 people. The Government must take affirmative action to protect these jobs in what is a hard pressed and difficult sector. The Retail Ireland director, Stephen Lynham, has said that the high cost of rents, rates, tax and labour are causing retailers real difficulties and depressing consumer demand. This had the added disadvantage of the broken promise of the Government to ban upward-only rent reviews. It was a severe disappointment to retailers when the Government broke that promise. As the Government broke it, it announced the 2% increase in VAT.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question, please.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Taoiseach bring forward similar proposals to the car scrappage scheme which, everyone accepts, had an impact on that sector? The ESRI has warned that retail sales will decline again in 2012. Can the Taoiseach outline what the Government will do to protect jobs in this sector? There is no town across Ireland not experiencing serious issues on this front.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is not possible to predict accurately the income that will arise over a 12 month period on the basis of several weeks. Deputy Martin is aware that the VAT increase was part of the memorandum of understanding originally drawn up by his Government. This Government brought forward the increase over two years to one year. This gives certainty in that there will be no further increase in VAT. Given the flat indigenous economy, the retail sector has been under serious pressure. I am aware of places throughout the country where smaller units in particular have been hanging on because of a lack of confidence among people to spend. Everyone understands that. Deputy Martin should note that unemployment, while far too high, has stabilised here. No jobs have been lost in the retail sector. Retail sales were higher in January this year than they were last year. I know the pressure that many people are under but let us consider what the Government has done. There has been a stimulus for employers to be able to hold on to employees, a reduction of PRSI and no increase in income tax. There is a recognition that in the budget the Government has tried to stimulate the indigenous economy by way of increasing the opportunity of small businesses to do business. I can testify to some small movements or increases in employment in areas of retail. However, it is realistic to say and everyone understands that in general the retail sector has been under some pressure here.

In the budget the Government brought forward two years of VAT increases in one year. There will be no further increase in VAT. Prices have dropped and have been deflated so there is real value for consumers now. Retail people recognise the challenge ahead and they are up for it and keen to get through it. Prices have come down, competitiveness has increased and value and quality are available for the consumer. However, it is a case of continuously making people understand that this is about creating the opportunity for people who have savings and money to spend it locally. As Deputy Martin is aware and as has been pointed out by many local campaigns, every €100 spent on local retail operations means so much to that local economy.

There will be no further increase in VAT. That is in the memorandum of understanding. The increase has been brought forward for the two years in one go which gives certainty for the future. Prices are down. The employment rate has stabilised. Hotel bookings are up by 6%, an increase in a challenging position. We recognise this but we are focused on giving every stimulus we can to business to be able to do business. The decision made by the Minister for Finance and the Government in respect of VAT brings certainty to the situation, which while challenging will be dealt with.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under the original troika agreement, there was to be a 1% increase in 2013 and a further 1% increase in 2014, but there was to be no increase in 2012. The Taoiseach decided, in his wisdom, to increase it by 2% in 2012. I find that incredible. With the greatest respect, the Taoiseach's head must be in the sand for him to suggest there have been no jobs lost in the retail sector.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Thousands of jobs have been lost in the retail sector. Recently, Members from both sides raised the loss of jobs at La Senza and there is no town in Ireland where there are not shops closed on every street. However, the Taoiseach has come out with the statement that no jobs have been lost in the retail sector. That is an incredible statement to make. He also said that prices are going down. Inflation is rising. All the Taoiseach need do is ask any shopper, and he will be told prices are up. Let him ask anybody buying petrol or diesel and they will tell him prices are going up.

I asked whether the Taoiseach was going to bring forward any measures to stimulate the domestic economy and, in particular, the retail sector, given that he broke a solemn promise on rising costs.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Has the Deputy a question?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The point is that if the Taoiseach does not even see the reality on the ground, in terms of jobs lost and increasing pressures on people in the retail sector, there is no hope for the sector in the months ahead.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Let me be very clear. In my own town I see retail outlets closed down and jobs lost and I recognise that is happening in every town in the country. I recognise that many people in retail outlets have not taken an income or salary from their premises for some time because they are just hanging on. It is all about confidence. The VAT decision made by the Government was to bring forward the increases proposed for the next two years to this year, which brings certainty to the situation. It is about confidence. As the Deputy is aware, there is no VAT on two thirds of grocery sales. Competition has increased, prices are down and value is there for consumers and make no mistake about it, consumers are shopping around

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It was not the time for it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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People will use retail facilities where they see real value for what they have to spend and that is the consumer's choice. This is how things operate in every town in the country.

The Deputy asked if we were bringing forward any stimulus. What we are doing is trying to provide some measure of confidence for people in our indigenous economy

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is not doing it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In some locations some sectors are doing very well, but others are challenged. With the range of stores in particular sectors, competition becomes intense. We are well aware of the challenges faced by the retail sector. In so far as the Government is concerned, what we need to do is to continue to create a situation where banks can start to lend and provide credit for businesses, including the retail business. In so far as income tax and PRSI are concerned we are trying to give employers the opportunity to hold on to employees and to be able to take on new ones. This is challenging and nobody doubts that. I admit that in every town in the country retail outlets have closed, but I have evidence of new people being recruited in some sectors and this is a small sign of confidence that we are beginning to head in the right direction. The situation is challenging, but for its part the Government will do what it can to stimulate confidence in our indigenous economy and to add that to our export production and to the line of investment into the country to make for a brighter future.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yesterday I asked the Taoiseach about the conflicts of interest in NAMA and the financial system. I reminded him of Fine Gael's commitment to straighten this out and to get transparency and clarity, but ní bhfuair mé freagra soiléir ar bith ón Taoiseach inné. Therefore, I have another question for the Taoiseach. The Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, the bank formerly known as Anglo, has retained the services of the Blackstone Group to advise it on the sale of the €30 billion of loans it has across Ireland and Britain. The Blackstone Group is the largest distressed debt bidder in the world, but it was the unsuccessful bidder for the bank's US loan book last August. How come these vulture capitalists are advising on this loan sale but are not precluded from bidding for the debts? They are advising on the sale, but are bidding at the same time. Surely, this is a conflict of interest which runs totally contrary to the Taoiseach's election promises to straighten out these issues and make them transparent.

Was the Taoiseach aware of this agreement before it was reached? Does he believe it is acceptable that a company such as this can advise on a sale and bid in the same sale? What does he propose to do about this?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should take this up with the Minister for Finance directly. The various sections of major groups like the Blackstone Group are legally separated. What we are doing is getting the best advice in the interest of the taxpayer. The Deputy could find it more useful to raise this as a Topical Issue with the Minister for Finance, who would have far more detail on the issue than I have available to me now.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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This response is very disappointing as yesterday the Taoiseach stonewalled me on a similar question. This is all in the context of a Fine Gael commitment. The Taoiseach rightly identified the conflict of interest and set out a course of action, but he has not taken that course of action. I understand the Taoiseach met with the chairman of the Blackstone Group in November last year. Did he discuss this deal then? The Taoiseach is aware the citizens of this State are paying the price for the mistakes of others and for the austerity policies commenced by Fianna Fáil and followed through by the current Government.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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For the damage done by Sinn Féin.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Therefore, the Taoiseach has a responsibility to ensure that assets being sold by IBRC and NAMA are sold at the best possible price and that there is no conflict. How much is the Blackstone Group being paid to advise the IBRC on these loan sales? Can the Taoiseach give us some indication on this?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I notice the Deputy's interest in loans. I would think Deputy Ó Snodaigh and Deputy Adams might go to the Northern Bank and get a loan for the old toner cartridges.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Unfortunately, it seems as if some Sinn Féin members cannot get away from cartridges, with unfortunate results.

I suggest Deputy Adams should put down a question to the Minister for Finance asking him about the fee paid to the Blackstone Group. I assure the Deputy that the highest ethical standards will be employed in this regard, because this Government does not do business in the way it was done previously in this or any other sector. Deputy Adams may take it that in respect of sales of NAMA properties, these will be sold in the best interest of the taxpayer with the best price being obtained and with the highest ethical standards applying.

If Deputy Adams has evidence of a conflict of interest in this regard, he should bring it to the attention of the public authorities. He should also put his question to the Minister for Finance and I am sure he will be happy to give the Deputy a detailed answer.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Joe Higgins.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy's time is being used up. May we have some silence for Deputy Higgins?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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A Cheann Comhairle, the-----

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Help him out, Shane.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Could you repeat that, Joe?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thought Deputy Buttimer had quietened down. He is disappointing me.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I refrained from a riposte because the issue-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I thank the Deputy.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----I want to raise with the Taoiseach is of significant seriousness.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am sure it is monumental.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Some months after the scandal of the fire hazard at Priory Hall, which is causing awful hardship to the innocent residents there, another fire hazard scandal is unfolding at Belmayne, which is also on the north Dublin fringe. Kitara developers have written to hundreds of apartment owners to tell them they might have to move out of their homes for three or four days to allow fire hazards to be corrected. The issue that needs urgent Government action is the fact that the developer, Dublin City Council and the council's most senior fire authority officers are deliberately, dishonestly and seriously underestimating the extent of the fire hazards they have just acknowledged. Therefore, the extent of the construction works that will be necessary is being seriously underestimated. The unfortunate consequence for the innocent residents who are affected, some of whom paid €600,000 for their apartments, will be disruption. They are not millionaires - they are working people. The reason the risk is being underestimated is that for a full year, there has been a cover-up - unfortunately - by Dublin City Council of scandalous breaches of fire safety regulations in Belmayne.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy has to be very careful not to be making allegations in this Chamber. It is an abuse of parliamentary privilege to state there has been a "cover-up" by officials.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I will have no problem repeating it outside the Chamber.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Be careful, please.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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When the Minister of State with responsibility for housing at Cabinet level, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, spoke in this Dáil 16 hours ago, she repeated what Dublin City Council told her, which is that this issue first came to light just one month ago when a leaking pipe led to an investigation that showed up-----

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I did not say that.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----some fire problems. That is a blatant lie.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is way over time. Can we have a question?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will have to withdraw that for a start.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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In March 2011, the Dublin chief fire officer and the assistant fire officer had a three-hour meeting with residents.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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A question, please.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Deputy Terence Flanagan was in attendance. These problems and serious issues were unveiled and acknowledged at that meeting. A fire officer who visited saw the full extent of the problem.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can I have the Deputy's question, please? He is two minutes over time.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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In July, the chief fire officer wrote to residents-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am asking the Deputy to put his question.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----to say there was no problem.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask him to withdraw the word "lie", which is not allowed in the Chamber.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I will not withdraw it.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy should leave the House then.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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For a year now, the innocent residents-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will the Deputy ask his question?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----have been abused, lied to and sent around the houses in regard to this issue.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not a forum for the Deputy to be making allegations about people who are not here to defend themselves.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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A Cheann Comhairle, on a point of order-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Higgins to put his question and sit down.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Can I ask the Taoiseach if he will-----

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On a point of order-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. No, please.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Higgins has to withdraw the word "lie".

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am looking after that.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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A Deputy came in here and told blatant lies before.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I read the Minister of State's statement.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have asked the Deputy to put his question. I ask him again to do so. He is two minutes over time.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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It suggested that the council said to the Minister of State that this issue came to light on 19 January last. I assure the House that is a lie.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order-----

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Will the Taoiseach instruct-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Please resume your seat. Does the Taoiseach wish to respond to the allegations or questions or whatever they are?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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On a point of order-----

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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He is incorrect in what he said about what I said yesterday.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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-----the accusation of lying has not been withdrawn

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have already made that point.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I want the Taoiseach to ask-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It will have to be withdrawn, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have already said that.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It has not been withdrawn.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Will the Taoiseach instruct the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Will Deputy Higgins resume his seat?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----to investigate immediately-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not wish to ask the Deputy to leave the House, but I will have to do so if he does not resume his seat.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I started with a three-minute interruption by Government Deputies.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes, but I have given the Deputy adequate time.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy started with a pregnant pause.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It was a theatrical pause.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Now the Chair is not allowing me to put my question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is not going to be a platform for accusing people.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I am trying to raise an issue of the most serious importance.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Put your question. This is Leaders' Questions.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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It relates to ordinary and decent people-----

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Higgins is only a bully.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----who are affected by the rottenness that is going on in this area as a consequence of inadequate construction.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask the Deputy to resume his seat. Will the Taoiseach deal with the issue?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I am asking the Taoiseach to get the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to initiate a major investigation into this whole situation-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Resume your seat, please.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Bring back Deputy Ross.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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-----and to ensure strict enforcement.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am asking you again to resume your seat. This is no place for making allegations of people telling lies. It is totally out of order.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Why not, if it is true?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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As long as I am in the Chair, you are not going to use this Chamber to make accusations and allegations against people who are not here to defend themselves.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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It happened before inside here.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not accept that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is a liar and it is beneath Deputy Higgins to claim it.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I did not say that.

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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You did.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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You did.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Withdraw it.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Taoiseach must not divert. I did not say the Minister of State is a liar. I said the Minister of State was misinformed by Dublin City Council.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Are you replying now?

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I did not say that the Minister of State lied.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Yes, you did.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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That is what we heard.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I said that the Minister of State was misinformed and misled by Dublin City Council.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is Leaders' Questions.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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We are hearing weasel words from Deputy Higgins.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Does the Taoiseach wish to reply?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I do not accept Deputy Higgins's assertion that the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is a liar.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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She is well paid for it.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is beneath him.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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He did not say that.

Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Labour)
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He did say it.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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He said the council lied to her.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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When the Minister of State replied on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, she did not say that the matter did not come to light until the date mentioned by Deputy Higgins. The Deputy should be big enough to withdraw the scurrilous and scandalous remark he made about a hard-working and genuine Minister of State.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Higgins is aware that fire certificates have to be signed. If there is a discrepancy, an uncertainty, a fault or something that is not correct, the person who signed the relevant fire certificate has to take responsibility. If Deputy Higgins is prepared to repeat his assertion about a cover-up by Dublin City Council outside the House, I am quite sure Dublin City Council will answer him. I feel for the tenants who will have to leave Belmayne for a number of days to get this matter rectified. I also feel for the tenants at Priory Hall, the edifice of which was constructed by a developer who is now bankrupt in England.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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That is a matter for Sinn Féin.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As I have said previously, the position is that this may well arise in a number of other locations. The Government is again having to clean up an unholy mess that has been landed on hard-working men and women who put down their money and signed their names to buy places they considered would be their homes for the rest of their lives. The unwarranted intrusion that is interfering with that is most unfortunate. We will have to deal with it by means of certificates of competency and put in place a process to ensure this never happens again. In Deputy Higgins's retort, he should be big enough to withdraw the scurrilous remark he made about the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That completes Leaders' Questions for today.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Can I say to the Taoiseach-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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No.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Sorry, we have finished Leaders' Questions.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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No.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Deputy Higgins should be allowed to make his supplementary contribution.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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He made his supplementary contribution.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I have a right-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach answered the Deputy's first set of questions before the Deputy made a supplementary contribution.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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No, hang on.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Excuse me. I am in the Chair. I am making a ruling. We will move on to the Order of Business.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Sorry, I did not have an opportunity to ask a supplementary question.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy spent five minutes making allegations.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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He wasted his time.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Three minutes of that were lost to interruptions.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach stood up and said he would not answer Deputy Higgins's first question. The Deputy got up again.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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No, he did not.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach has now replied. That is the end of the story.

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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He did not get up again.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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He did.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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A Cheann Comhairle, I beg you-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before I move on to the Order of Business, I would like to-----

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I must insist on my rights here.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Would the Deputy mind not shouting? He should sit down.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The Ceann Comhairle is being-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am being fair and reasonable.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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No, you are not.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Yes, I am.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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You are being incredibly unfair.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I am not responsible for what the Taoiseach decides to say when he answers the questions asked by Deputies. He gave a very short answer to the Deputy's initial question. He then replied to the Deputy's supplementary reply.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I did not make a reply. I was correcting-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No. I am telling the Deputy what he did.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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This is very important, a Cheann Comhairle.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, it is not very important. It is very important for the Deputy to resume his seat before he is sent outside the Chamber.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I made an immediate riposte to the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, who thought I had said she lied. I merely corrected her by reminding the House that I said no such thing.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The record will speak for itself.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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The point that I need to put to the Taoiseach-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Deputy.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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This is his third time on his feet.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Higgins to resume his seat.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Why did the chief fire officer write to the residents in July to say there was no problem?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I have asked the Deputy to resume his seat. I will not ask the Deputy a second time.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I will resume my seat under intense protest. Although I have been treated most unfairly, I am more concerned about the residents and the victims of these practices in Irish construction.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Resume your seat, Deputy Higgins. There are plenty of people concerned about the residents. The matter can be raised under Topical Issue Matters and there are other ways of dealing with it. Everybody is treated equally in this House regarding that matter.