Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Senator has that luxury, I do not. When considering these issues, I will not be in a position to cut off my noise to spite my face. My failure to do nothing on the withering of planning permissions under the two year rule would not punish developers but house purchasers, who all in the House seek to champion. I am pleased Senators also recognise that housing supply is the key to the issue in the market place.

My approach to the Bill is based on common sense driven by what I can deliver in real terms for those most in need of housing. It is a simple equation. It was expected that, on the one hand, I might abandon the withering condition while, on the other, the wish and hope of the builders were the abandonment of the 20% affordable housing provision. I did no such thing.