Does the Taoiseach accept the evidence that shows the countries in Europe with the largest and most successful rental sectors also have very strong rent regulation? Does he accept the evidence that shows that rents in Ireland are among the highest in Europe? The Taoiseach asked for solutions; I will give him just two in the time available. One would be to introduce specific zoning for affordable housing. That is done in places like Vienna, where you can rent a two-bed apartment for about €750 per month. Will the Ta…

Did the Taoiseach even read that Housing Europe report?

Did the Taoiseach read the report?

Did the Taoiseach read the report?

In relation to the programme for Government and what it says about pensions, I want to ask the Taoiseach about the pension entitlements of retired postal workers. As the Taoiseach knows, when An Post was founded in 1984, postal workers were promised at that stage that they would not lose their pension entitlements. That promise was copperfastened by the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act of 1983, which guaranteed that their pensions would never be less favourable than those of other civil servants. The reti…

On the issue of infrastructure and education, I recently visited Gaelcholáiste Reachrann along with my constituency colleagues. It is an incredibly impressive Gaelcholáiste with a brilliant atmosphere. The staff are hugely dedicated and students achieve brilliant results both academically and on the sports field. Most of the school has been housed in prefabs for the last 20 years. The school has been promised permanent buildings. I raised this issue multiple times in the previous Dáil with the then Taoiseach, Deput…

On competitiveness, the Taoiseach knows housing is a key challenge. The Taoiseach said himself there are issues with the refurbishment of long-term voids on a large scale. There is something that could be done to change this. On the cost of refurbishing long-term voids, the assumption is that it is spread over ten years. For other capital projects, it is usually spread over 30 years. If the Taoiseach wants to do something positive, that could be changed. There is no evidence base for it being restricted to ten year…

The Minister is at it again. The Government has just been caught out using dodgy housing data and talking about 40,000 homes completed last year and just now, the Minister told us work commenced on 60,000 homes in 2024, using the same dodgy data based on commencement notices filed and housing sites then lying idle, which has been happening all around the country. Do not take my word for that; Property Industry Ireland, the lobbyist for the investment funds that the Government listens to so much, said at the weekend…

Does the Minister know that the countries in Europe with the largest rental sectors, the most landlords and the most investors, are also the countries in Europe with the strongest forms of rent regulation? Does he know, as regards constructive proposals, about those in the Housing Europe report commissioned by one of Fianna Fáil's MEPs about how to get billions of euro of funding into affordable house? Does he know about those and why is he not taking on board those constructive proposals? I asked the Minister abou…

In 2023, Women's Aid received its highest ever number of domestic abuse disclosures in its 50-year history. There were 40,048 disclosures of domestic abuse against women and children, which was an increase of nearly 20% in a year. Among the horrors being experienced by women behind closed doors were assaults with weapons, constant surveillance, rape and threats to life. Much of this violence happens in secret. In fact, secrecy is what makes domestic violence so damaging and so endemic. It is why a domestic violence…

I have watched the Taoiseach's answers in the Dáil Chamber over the last five years. I have to say the answer he gave on housing and the 40,000 homes is one of the weakest I have ever seen him deliver in this House. He said he had a genuine belief that 40,000 homes would be delivered, based on estimates from private entities. Why did the Taoiseach completely disregard the hard data coming from the official State bodies, like the CSO, which were completely disputing his claim of 40,000 homes? Why did the Taoiseach n…

Ten out of ten to the Taoiseach for deflection and evasion. Where are the 40,000 homes the Taoiseach promised? Why, as Taoiseach, when it comes to housing completions data, does he accept reports from private entities and reject the data from the CSO?

Why? The Taoiseach has not answered that. He failed to answer that. Is it only when it comes to housing completions in an election year that he does not listen to CSO data-----

-----or is it when it suits him? For years, no one could trust Fianna Fáil after then Ministers Noel Dempsey and Dermot Ahern could not keep a straight face when they were denying there was going to be a bailout of the banks after the economic crash. The Taoiseach worked hard to try to rebuild trust in Fianna Fáil and he is throwing that away by going into election years and making claims about 40,000 homes that he could not stack up and that the Central Bank, ESRI and CSO were not backing up. I will ask my questio…

You did not even know what was in our housing policy.

Answer the question.

On behalf of the Social Democrats, I express our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and all the loved ones of the young man who died in the storm. The heartbreak and pain from having the life of a loved one, a young person, cut off are unthinkable. I wanted to express that sympathy. I also pay tribute to the incredible work done by the ESB and international crews in restoring power. They have put in a massive effort and huge hours. We are all very proud of the work they have done. The Dáil should have met la…

A Cheann Comhairle, I thank you for the work you have done in helping to bring this to a resolution for today. I also welcome the statement from the Government Chief Whip and the engagement with all of the different party leaders this morning to resolve this. It should never have come to this. All of us, on the Government benches and the Opposition benches, need to work constructively together in the future to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the Dáil and to engage properly so these things do not happen i…

I wish Micheál Martin well today. It is a very proud day for him and his family, especially now that his family are able to join him today having not been in the convention centre during the pandemic. While we wish the incoming Taoiseach and Government well in their terms of office, the Social Democrats will not be supporting any of the nominations today. As a country, we face huge challenges, most acutely in housing, healthcare, the cost of living, childcare, disability services and climate change. We cannot face …

At the outset, on behalf of the Social Democrats, I congratulate the Taoiseach on his election. Today is a special day for you and your family, for your wife, Mary, and your friends. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the crucial role that families and partners play in supporting all of us in public life, very much behind the scenes. This is rarely acknowledged and it is appropriate to do so. I also congratulate all those who have been appointed to Cabinet. It is a proud day for you and your family and fri…