Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments of Senator McDowell in respect of the issue he raised. While Members might have had a little giggle at the end of his contribution, it is important. The cornerstone of our democracy is Cabinet collective responsibility, which is something several Ministers in the current Cabinet have not accepted. The Attorney General might need to provide them with a handbook on how they are supposed to behave because they are not behaving in the best interests of this country. The manner in which they are behaving may help to get them re-elected but it is not in the best interests of the Republic. I am extremely disappointed about this. I believe the three Ministers concerned should consider resigning. It is not possible to have a foreign policy separate to that decided by Cabinet or to have employment legislation other than that already in place, which the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, has breached. As a Minister of State, he should, if a party to an interview board, be aware of the rules and regulations around that process. I echo the call by Deputy Sherlock for the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, to resign.

I wish to raise another issue that is affecting people on a daily basis. Not a day goes by that I do not meet a young person who has happily returned to employment and who now wants to plan for his or her future. Many of these young people are not on huge salaries and are concerned they will not qualify for the affordable housing or rental schemes continuously referenced by the Government. Over a year ago it was stated in this House that an affordable housing scheme and an affordable rental scheme would be put in place, which I have followed up on two occasions with the Minister and Minister of State in this House. On the first occasion, which was March last, I asked for a pilot scheme to be put in place in respect of the Poolbeg West development and I was told not to worry, as an affordable housing scheme would be announced shortly thereafter. However, no affordable scheme has yet been announced. In September the Minister indicated in The Irish Times that within weeks an affordable housing scheme would be in place such that people would know where they stand, what deposits would be needed and the income criteria in terms of eligibility for the scheme. Thousands of young people are waiting to find out if they qualify, what deposit they will need and to whom they should apply in that regard. There will be 3,500 units in the Poolbeg West development, of which 300 will be social housing units and the remaining will be affordable housing units. No criteria has yet been announced in relation to the affordable housing purchase or rental schemes.

Today, I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to come to this House as soon as possible to explain to the House why no scheme has yet been announced. People need to be able to plan for their future but they do not know where they stand. These people work hard every day and they are being let down every day by the Minister, Deputy Murphy.