Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I hope that is done now.

On the question of housing another debate with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government would be beneficial and important.Senator Humphreys and I have discussed the importance of reinstating the rent-to-buy scheme. It was available ten years ago and allowed people to raise enough money for a deposit while still renting. I refer to that stuck generation who still live at home even though they are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The scheme allowed for the entire rent paid for the previous three years to go towards a deposit. It meant one did not have a situation where people who were renting had to try to save for a deposit at the same time. Before the economic crash, the rent-to-buy scheme worked for quite a number of people and I believe the scheme should be reintroduced. The Labour Party will include such a proposal as part of its pre-budget submission. We should proactively work with city and county councils to reintroduce the scheme.

I want to refer to US border policy and the current practice of separating families at the southern border of the United States. A number of years ago I called Donald Trump a fascist. One thing that clearly identifies a person as being fascist is to pick on a very vulnerable group, dehumanise them, blame them for everything and treat them in the most appalling manner. Sadly, such disgusting political behaviour has begun to spread because recently, the Italian Government issued statements about the Roma community who live in Italy. We should not be surprised about what has happened at the southern border of the US because it follows a travel ban, loads of rhetoric and the fact that Donald Trump has called illegal immigrants animals.

I have to hand the invitation that all Members of the Oireachtas received by post from the chargé d'affaires of the United States Embassy. Of course there is no US ambassador to Ireland because that country has not bothered to give us one. The chargé d'affaires has invited us all to drink - I assume champagne - and to eat sausage rolls on 3 July to celebrate US Independence Day on 4 July. Bizarrely, the event is entitled "United We Rock".

Earlier we had a briefing with an American immigration lawyer, Ms Fiona McEntee, as well as Senator Lawless, who obviously also feels passionately about this issue. Earlier, there was representation from every political party in the House, which I was delighted to see. I am very taken by the strong statement made by the Tánaiste and by the motion tabled in this House by Fianna Fáil. I believe it is time for us to collectively and with one voice, given what is happening on the southern border of the United States, to refuse point blank to attend the reception and tell the chargé d'affaires the reasons we are not attending it.