Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In a country that values neutrality, it is hard to use battle analogies so I will go with the one I know best, which is that of an election campaign. The advice would always be to leave everything on the field, to do everything possible and when one stands there on the day of the count or the announcement of who has won, one will know one did everything that was possible to win that seat.

We are in a fight to ensure that people who need homes have homes, including people from every sector of our society and every type of tenure. We are in a battle royal to make sure that housing and homes are provided to people. Therefore, the idea that we would sever any possibility or any one element within that is not comprehensible to me. I understand some of the reservations coming out of the 90s and the noughties but we must have learned and put ourselves in a position to ensure that we have an armoury that reflects every possible need. As Senator Cummins said, this is about legislating for the whole country. As much as I would stand here and consider its implications for just one constituency where the need is great and where the disproportionate provisions have been great, we are legislators for the whole country. We have to ensure that what we put in place is for the whole country.

The other part of that is that to demonise the private developers is a completely wrong thing to do. There are organisations working under the radar in this country that are working alongside AHBs and other organisations to provide housing. They are putting up the equity and earning a living out of it. They are not going for a major profit but there are organisations that are doing that. They prefer to do it quietly, be it vocationally, be it that they are providing employment or be it that they have achieved a certain comfort in their lives and so now they can be much more altruistic in their focus, while ensuring their business continues. There are organisations in this country that provide that. We cannot demonise private developers and say that if there is a private element it cannot be a part of this because that would be fundamentally wrong.Do we need to ensure there is oversight and correct proportionality? Of course we do, but we cannot demonise private developers or say they cannot be involved in any way in this process. We must ensure we leave it all on the field and do everything possible to provide homes for people throughout the country.

The local authorities do not have the skills base required. They do not have whole sections devoted to building. They rely on engagement with developers and putting developments out to tender. Why not, then, give the local authorities the option of public private partnerships, which may lead to greater negotiation and even more affordable properties? Why not put that tool on the table for them and give them that opportunity? I do not understand why Senators would stand against this. We are not saying the LDA is the only possible vehicle but, rather, that this legislation is one of two exceptional Bills in the context of a full-on frontal attack in meeting the need for homes. We must keep all our weaponry at the ready and use every opportunity to ensure the delivery of homes.