The Government has made a bags of the sale of the State's shares in AIB, although it tries to spin it as a success. This was a botched deal for the taxpayer from day one. In its rush to get the bank back into private hands, the Government has cost the State €5 billion. This is the money that would have been generated simply by holding onto the shares. In 2022, when the Government began the sell-off, shares in AIB stood at €2.32. Today they stand at €7. The Government was told at that time that this increase in valu…

Never mind my language, answer the question.

This Thursday, workers in Bord na Móna Recycling, the country’s only remaining publicly owned domestic waste collection service, will go on strike. The company's recycling arm is being sold off to a privately owned company called KWD Recycling. This State sell-off not only jeopardises workers' terms and conditions, but also makes a mockery of the Government's consultation on reform of Ireland’s approach to waste management. If the Government is open to changing the system, why on earth would it sell off the last pu…

What is wrong with Deputy Heneghan?

That is very unfair.

That never happens.

Tell the Minister that.

The so-called rent reform plan the Government announced yesterday is a shambles. The Taoiseach is literally all over the place, confused by his own back-of-the-envelope proposal and unclear as to what he is saying. There is one thing that is clear - the Government's plan will push up rents even further. It is only a question of when renters will be hit. The Government will allow landlords themselves to set a market rate for rent. After 1 March and throughout the course of next year tens of thousands of renters will…

Try answering my questions.

That is very ignorant.

The only person who has managed to sow confusion is the Taoiseach, ably assisted by the Minister, Deputy Browne. I am very glad he was listening so attentively to me this morning. I hope he heard my appeal again to him to stop screwing things up. It is almost as if the Taoiseach deliberately set out repeatedly to make a mess of things. Deputy Martin is the Taoiseach, accountable to the House. I have put questions to him. They are reasonable and fair questions that renters all across the State are asking. Here is hi…

The only certainty is that rents will rise. When the Taoiseach takes to his feet he might answer the questions I asked originally in respect of rolling out protections and what analysis has been done in respect of rents going up.

You are telling untruths, is it?

This is distraction tactics.

Answer the question.

He is not the Taoiseach.

It is true.

Yes, until-----

Until the tenancy ends.

Increase the rent-----