David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday the Government attempted to bribe people with their own money in regard to budget 2016. The hallmark of the Government over the past four and half years has been that the top 20% of income earners in the State have benefited every single time in every single budget by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Yesterday the top 14% of income earners gained approximately €900, while the average worker, on €20,000 or €30,000, gained only a fraction, or one third, of that. In no one's language is that fair, yet that is what has been delivered by the Government.

The property tax will remain, as will water charges. The promised free GP care, which is being rolled out on the basis of age, is not being rolled out on the basis of health need, people's ability to pay or income. Rolling it out according to age is not the way to proceed.

The real tragedy, however, is the housing crisis. How is it that €181 million can be found to give to the people with the deepest pockets in this State? The top 14% of income earners walk away with €181 million while there are people dying on our streets and in dire straits. The Government should listen to Senator Hayden, an authority on this issue. This is a national emergency. I agree with Senator Hayden and am not doing so to play politics. I genuinely believe she is sincere in what she is saying. We do not need to overhear conversations on buses or trains to learn that there is an emergency; it has been evident for a long time. It is about time that this State, all the Government representatives and the Opposition got their act together on this issue and sorted it out. I ask for a debate on housing in the context of what should and could have been in the budget, but was not, to deal with the emergency. If I were to prioritise the invitation of one Minister to the House, it would be the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly.