These days, the only thing the Labour Party puts stamps on are the envelopes for the planning objections it loves lodging, opposing housing and apartments to purchase and rent, many of which are on publicly-owned land.

Once upon a time, the Labour Party would be advocating for more housing to be built across the length and breadth of this country and it would be ashamed to object to housing. It had principles.

When queried about these objections, it cites proper planning by way of excuse.

It says not this height, not that height, not in this place, not in that place, too much traffic here, not enough parking here. Voltaire had it right, Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien . Perfect is the enemy of good.

We need good housing for everyone, not perfect housing where everyone agrees on the height, density, colour scheme or the right number of parking spaces. I would like the Opposition to be honest with people today and admit it is stopping and stalling thousands of homes across the country.

The housing objections from the Opposition are denying people a place to live in, which is an indisputable fact.

The Opposition should be honest and admit it is part of the problem.

We in government, on the other hand, are investing in all types of housing in every county. The 2023 €4 billion housing budget has been welcome by experts in this area, such as the Irish Council for Social Housing. One never hears the Opposition mention that. The fact is that Labour is playing politics with housing, as is Sinn Féin. They object to homes and then march in here and put down a no-confidence motion in the Government, because the very same houses they objected to are not being built.

Labour and the Opposition waste valuable Dáil time, week after week, never offering realistic solutions to housing-----

-----or setting out-----

-----how they would even implement them, as effective Opposition parties would.

Instead, they force votes they do not even want to win.

The party of James Connolly, Brendan Corish and Michael O'Leary understood the importance-----

-----and necessity of building homes for workers and families-----

-----of all incomes, something the Labour Party of 2023 appears to have forgotten.

There was a time when the Labour Party would have been ashamed to pull a stunt such as this.

I have responsibility for the national drug strategy. We have established a citizens' assembly, which will meet in April and report back to the Oireachtas by the end of the year. In Government, we have a health-led approach to drug addiction, trying to reduce harm and examining every aspect, such as the areas Deputy Ó Cuív raised, in how we deal with drug addiction and use in Ireland. We must look at best international practice in this area. Experts will address the citizens' assembly. We must make sure the assembl…

I move: That, notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 30th July, 2020, and with effect from 27th April, 2023, the rota in which Questions shall be addressed to members of the Government pursuant to Standing Order 47(2) shall be as follows: 1. Minister for Foreign Affairs 2. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications 3. Minister for Defence 4. Minister for Transport 5. Minister for Finance 6. Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform 7. Minister for Enterprise, Tra…

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in yesterday's Order of Business, that the motion re appointment of an ordinary member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission be taken on Thursday, 30 March, without debate.

I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (back from Committee) (without debate) - Motion re Twenty Second Report of the Committee of Selection (without debate) - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the terms of the Annual Emission Allocation Units Purchase Agreement (to conclude within 55 mins) - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the proposal for a Council …