I thank the Deputy. I agree there is a housing emergency and have said so in the past. I agree there is a housing crisis, which is a term I have used in the past. However, competing with each other to find new and more dramatic words to describe the housing challenge does not build any houses or solve problems for any of the people the Deputy mentioned in his contribution. What we require is housing action, and that is what we are doing, led by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. We are implementing Housing for All, whic…

The Deputy is right about something. My party has been in office for the past 12 years. In fairness to Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, they have not been in office for so long - only three years. However, there is no party in this House that has been in office on this island more than the Deputy's party. Sinn Féin has been 20 years in office on and off in Northern Ireland, with a Sinn Féin finance minister, a Sinn Féin housing minister and a Sinn Féin joint head of government to use its own terms. What is happenin…

That is true when it comes to ethics. It is true when it comes to finances - both Sinn Féin Deputies' personal finances and that party's finances - as well as its policies.

I agree that we should review and strengthen the powers of SIPO with regard to its remit when it comes to standards and ethics. I am totally in favour of that and that work is being done at the moment led by the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath. I anticipate that we will see legislation next year to enhance and strengthen the role of the standards commission, which is something I strongly support. I was part of the Government that banned corporate donations, taking business money out of politics. I was part of the …

I know; that is my point.

Those standards are fine when they come from the left.

That is absolutely my point. I thank the Deputy.

I expect we will see that legislation next year. I agree that we need to strengthen the powers and functions of the standards commission. When it comes to ethics, standards and codes of conduct, I do not believe it is the role of any standards commission to investigate the political decisions or actions of Ministers. That is a different thing. Ministers are responsible to the Dáil for political decisions they make. When it comes to standards, ethics and codes of conduct, I absolutely believe that the standards comm…

The Social Democrats is a party of the left. It has lower standards for people who are on the left. The Deputy said on radio that I should not serve in government just because I was under investigation even though I have subsequently been cleared.

Why will the Social Democrats not apply the same standards to Sinn Féin? When the Deputy is doing future interviews, I hope journalists will press her on this matter.

It is because you are a hypocrite, Róisín. You are a hypocrite, that is why.

Just like Sinn Féin, you sue your opponents now.

That is the latest thing.

Yes, that is the latest thing.

Let us move on.

It is a fair question.

Of course not, because-----

It is double standards. It is okay to be dodgy if you are on the left.

I want to say at the outset that my main concern and that of the Government is for the staff and family members of the staff who are affected by the recent announcement of job losses in the tech sector. It is something that I have been working on with my colleagues very extensively in the last couple of days, as I am sure the Deputy can appreciate. I can give those staff the reassurance that their legal rights will be protected, there will be 30 days of information and consultation, they will receive statutory redu…

That is a valid question. I do not have an update on the timing in relation to those cases. That matter is handled by the Minister of Finance rather than me as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Let us state the facts here. The European Court of Justice decided against the European Commission. The European Commission, or at least one directorate of the European Commission, alleged that 20 years ago, long before either of us were involved in the Dáil, the Irish Government at the time had a special tax ar…