Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to briefly comment on the news from the Central Bank of a relaxation on the qualifying criteria for deposits on mortgages. I would err on the side of caution on this issue. The issue of housing, which has been well documented and commented on, is really a supply issue and a costing issue with regard to the State taking a large proportion of the costs associated with building a house. Therefore, pressure has been brought to bear on the Central Bank. It may not necessarily have been political pressure, but let us call it vested interest banking pressure that was brought to bear on the Central Bank. Interested stakeholders, such as banks, lobbied intensively to change these rules. Unfortunately, where there is a limited supply of housing, particularly in Dublin, and where there are increased resources being made available to allow people to bid against each other, it will drive up the cost of housing. That is what is going to happen, particularly in the capital, where there is a great demand for housing. I would certainly err on the side of caution with regard to those changes made yesterday. I do not think it is the right way to go, particularly when there is a new grant scheme being brought in by the Government at the same time. We will probably debate those issues later with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney.

I also want to touch on the issue of free speech in the two Houses of the Oireachtas in regard to sensitive issues of social policy.In recent days, two Members of the other House were attacked verbally by Deputy Clare Daly for their views on the eighth amendment. This is a very sensitive issue, irrespective of which side one's views are on. Deputies Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins, the latter from Cork, two honourable Independent Deputies, should not be castigated and their reputations impugned because they hold a certain view. They were called old grey-haired men who should not interfere in such issues.