Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I had not intended to speak on the Bill but I have been moved to do so by Senator White's contribution. At the time of the Peter Bacon report, which was taken from the 2006 census, we had 215,000 unoccupied houses, 65,000 of which were second homes and holiday homes. There were 150,000 unoccupied houses in the country in 2006, yet Government policy was to build 90,000 units per annum. We do not have to look outside these Houses for people to blame for that. We do not have to apportion all the blame on the banks. Senator White quoted from the commentary during the week and said there was little humility on the part of the banks. I suggest there is little humility on the part of Fianna Fáil for what it did. In 2006, there were 150,000 unoccupied houses in the country and Government policy was to build 90,000 units. That is the reason we got to where we are now.