Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

The question is whether the best time to do it is when one has record numbers of house purchases. One of the achievements of the Government is the significant increase in the supply of housing by 85,000 units. I do not know the figure for 1997 off the top of my head but I suspect it was something like half of that number. The population is rising sharply. I do not deny the problems faced by first-time buyers but I am concerned that the solutions would help them rather than, as Senator John Paul Phelan so eloquently put it, the Government's meddling making matters worse.

I am pleased we are discussing this subject. I suspect if changes are to be made, either now or in the future — we are not just talking about a once-off change in the next budget — it is a matter for ongoing review and the decisions need to be taken carefully and not made in a sweeping manner.