I said there were 1,300 usable beds, as per the Minister's response.

On a personal level, I wish the Taoiseach well. Politics can be tough and it takes its toll. We can all understand that. However, a new Fine Gael leader will not address the fact that the writing is on the wall for this Government. Clearly, the Taoiseach can see that as well as the rest of us. Throughout 14 years in office, Fine Gael has failed to tackle the major issues facing this country. Another Fine Gael Taoiseach will not address housing, healthcare, disability services and climate action because if we are go…

One of the biggest problems for this Government is just not being able to acknowledge the issues people are facing. To refer to addressing them as fairy tales is farcical. It is not a fairy tale-----

-----to have access to disability services. It is not a fairy tale to be able to own a home in this country. None of these things should be considered fairy tales. The problem is that on this journey the Taoiseach was speaking about, of going from deficit to surplus, people have been left behind. When we have that surplus, the Government is not using it to address those issues. It is not even willing to acknowledge that they are issues. We need a real change in Ireland, the kind that can only be brought about by a …

Let them decide if they want to send another Fine Gael leader back into government.

You were referring to the disability-----

I join other Deputies on behalf of the Social Democrats in remembering Charlie Bird. He was a true journalist. Even in what was perhaps the most difficult time for him, he still raised awareness and informed the public on the important issue of MND. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former colleagues.

In advance of the meeting of the European Council and in light of the fact that innocent civilians are being killed not just by bombs indiscriminately dropping on people in Gaza, but also by an impending famine, we need statements scheduled to discuss what the Taoiseach's approach at the European Council meeting will be and what Ireland can do independently of Europe, as an independent state, to use every lever available to us to prevent any further suffering in Gaza.

Powerful countries in the West, all of which claim to value human rights and international law, have been revealed by the war in Gaza as immoral hypocrites. They only value international law when their enemies and not their allies are in breach. Their shameful record in Gaza amounts to the normalisation of mass murder and devastation. They wag their fingers at the Israeli Government occasionally but continue to support and arm Israel. Their bombs and bullets have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians. It is not just…

One, the Tánaiste has not answered a single one of my questions. Two, it is just more words that do not even suggest that they will be followed by any kind of actions. It is important to look back to 1984 when Dunnes Stores workers refused to stock the shelves with products from apartheid South Africa. Never let it be said that a small country cannot have an impact. Big or small, it is important that in times like this that, as a country, we stand up and be brave. I have asked the Tánaiste, as a country, about the …

Can you do this now? It might be a good time.

You could enact the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill.

House prices and rents are at record highs. Nothing the Government does seems to have an impact on affordability. In fact, all of its policies seem to be designed to do one thing, namely, drive prices even higher. The figures say it all. Since the Government took office, house prices have increased by 25%. That is an increase of nearly €70,000 since 2020. Rents for new tenancies are up by more than €4,200 per year. People now have to come up with an extra €4,000 per year for rent, while trying to buy a house that c…

How many were social and affordable?

How many affordable?

When will the Government publish the figures?

Is the Tánaiste saying that the figures are not going to be published?

The Tánaiste did not answer the question.

Will the Government publish the affordable figures?

In January, an investment fund bought up 85% of the homes in a Dublin housing estate. Back then, the Minister for housing said-----