Dáil debates
Wednesday, 12 May 2021
Ceisteanna - Questions
Departmental Offices
2:10 pm
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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9. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit. [21618/21]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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10. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the parliamentary liaison unit. [24642/21]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.
The parliamentary liaison unit in my Department assists the Government in its relationship with the Oireachtas. It works with the Office of the Government Chief Whip on issues that arise at the Business Committee and the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform, including Dáil reform proposals and amendments to Standing Orders. The unit supports the Chief Whip's office in the implementation of the Government's legislation programme. In addition, the unit assists the office of the leader of the Green Party in work relating to the Cabinet, its committees and oversight of the implementation of the programme for Government. In carrying out these duties, the unit provides detailed information on upcoming matters in the Dáil and Seanad, highlights any new Oireachtas reform issues and provides assistance in engaging with the new processes arising from Dáil reform. The unit is staffed by 3.5 whole-time equivalent staff, comprising one principal officer, 1.5 higher executive officers and one clerical officer.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There are 20 seconds each for Deputies McDonald and Kelly.
2:20 pm
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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There is not much I can say in 20 seconds.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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There is not.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I will take the 20 seconds to inform the Taoiseach, because he may not know, that his Fianna Fáil colleagues on Dublin City Council voted against the Oscar Traynor proposal because it was flawed. I have to break it to the Taoiseach that the days of gifting vast swathes of public land to private developers are over, as far as we are concerned. I had hoped, given the experience we have had of boom and bust and the hardship that has emanated from a broken housing market, that the Taoiseach would also have learned that lesson.
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I do not think that is relevant to the question.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Some Fianna Fáil councillors have learned that so, who knows, perhaps there is hope for the Taoiseach yet.
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I do not have enough time to engage on this topic. I remind the Taoiseach that the reason the then Minister, former Deputy Michael Noonan, brought in real estate investment trusts, REITs, in 2011 or 2011 was because the Taoiseach and his colleagues damn well destroyed this country with their housing policies. They were in bed with developers. The Taoiseach should not come in here and start throwing out commentary like that without reflecting on the fact that he did not have the guts to stand up to his own party. It took him until the very end, when he knew everyone else had fallen, to do that. He has some cheek to come in here and talk in the manner he has without reflecting on his own history and who he sat beside when decisions were made to destroy this country for generations.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Sometimes the truth can hurt.
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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The truth can hurt for the Taoiseach.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy McDonald is very sensitive about the truthful and factual situation-----
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am not a bit sensitive. I am not remotely sensitive.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----that Sinn Féin has opposed many housing projects.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Not at all.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That includes its opposition to the development on Oscar Traynor Road.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am all for housing. I oppose homelessness.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am clear that we need to get projects that are shovel-ready off the ground. We need to get them built.
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach should get cracking.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We cannot go on arguing about a whole range of projects for another five or six years . That seems to be the Deputy's intention. We cannot keep on doing that on the issue of housing supply.
In response to Deputy Kelly's point, what I said was factual.
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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What I said was also factual.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I disagree with that.
Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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History does not show it.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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What we need right now is investment to get supply going.
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The State is the biggest actor and player in housing at the moment in terms of funding and the provision of housing. That cannot be denied. However, we need more than that to get the volume of houses that are required for the young people of this country. That is what is required.