Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----proverbially in this country. The population here in 2000 was 3.8 million; it is now 5.1 million. Do the maths. Start building houses. I went to school with boys from those prefabricated houses. They were not perfect, but those boys went on to work at the gas company or became electricians. Some of the boys from my class are partners in some of the biggest law firms in the city today because the human capital had a chance. If, however, you are living in a family hub or a hotel, if you are going to school on a bus and falling asleep in school, if you are homeless, if you are living in a tent, if you are living in rented accommodation, with no security, no fair rent, no fixity of tenure, no freedom to realise your full potential, then you are lost.

I say, therefore, to the people in this House to do no harm. The commodification of health, the commodification of housing, the commodification of childcare, etc., have brought us to the position we are in. The crash of the Celtic tiger was folly, but austerity and all that has flowed from it has been a deliberate policy.

You gave Senator Dolan plenty of leeway, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, so I will take a little myself.