Paul Bradford (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I very much agree with the previous speaker, Senator Aideen Hayden. I support Senator Thomas Byrne's request that we use this Chamber, in so far as possible, to activate, rather than reactivate, a very genuine holistic debate on the housing crisis. It is a matter on which I have spoken frequently in recent months. We were promised that the Minister would attend, but we need much more than a once-off session. We in the Seanad are perhaps best placed politically to have this urgent debate. Society and the Administration seem fixated on the importance of the construction industry, developers and bringing them in to meet Ministers and Taoisigh. We seem fixated on the traditional model of home ownership, but we must consider what is happening all around us and in Europe. There was a very interesting radio documentary recently on rental arrangements in Germany and France, where tenants have very secure and absolute rights of tenancy. Many people make a very happy choice to remain in rented accommodation for five to 20 years. Therefore, we need to start thinking holistically about this area. The Seanad Chamber, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee or a variation thereof could provide the ideal mechanism for having that debate. The issue certainly needs to be brought to the top of the political agenda.

I referred during the week to the confusion about the number of available housing units and the availability of land. I had a specific question, but there was absolutely no clarity from the Minister. We are hearing statistics about millions of euro ready to be invested and a new social housing programme, but there are many tens of thousands of people looking for houses simultaneously. There are tens of thousands of vacant units across the country and it is an absolute shame socially and a political disgrace that we cannot marry these problems into a solution. Therefore, since nothing is happening in the other House on this issue, I suggest to the Deputy Leader that we try to run with the ball and begin a very comprehensive debate on it. There is no better expert than the Deputy Leader's colleague, Senator Aideen Hayden. Many of us would like to join her and add our views. We should wait no longer.