Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator is correct. When one takes out the second homes, there were about 150,000 unoccupied houses. The Government policy was to build 90,000 units per annum. Young people considering mortgages were told to hurry up or they would never get on the property ladder. While the banks played their part, Government policy also played a big part. One has to assume that there is no great confidence in the banks, but we do have public interest directors in banks. I hope they are doing the job they were appointed to do.