In my view, local authority housing is fundamentally an issue for the local authority to deal with. It should have sufficient capacity to get in early to repair, refurbish or eliminate issues that give rise to mould developing in the first place.

In this Dáil and Oireachtas, we constantly talk about local autonomy and local government, but every time something happens, we want to say the Government must do it. Local authorities have responsibility for their housing stock. It is interesting; in the affordable housing schemes, they maintain their housing schemes and their houses. Local authorities need to do the same. Maybe, historically, there was a certain attitude when someone came in looking for basic repairs or whatever. People who are tenants are entitl…

I spoke earlier on this. There is no reluctance to strengthen the Act. I do not believe local authorities have been strong enough in enforcing the Act. That is a view I have. They might argue it takes too long and there are legal issues and so on which can go on forever. There are other ways to refurbish streetscapes and town centres. We also have to think about our town centres, streets and cities of the future because they are going to be different. There will be a bigger mix of residential as well as commercial.…

I meant that in a spirit of-----

I think An Ceann Comhairle understands where I am coming from.

I would be happy to participate in something An Ceann Comhairle convenes.

Comedy, is it?

I am please to support the motion that Dáil Éireann nominates Deputy Jack Chambers to the President for appointment as a member of the Government. Is pribhléid domsa tráthnóna inniu an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Chambers, a mholadh mar Aire Airgeadais na tíre. Is fearr cumasach, ábalta, éirimiúil é a bhfuil sárscileanna anailíseacha agus eagrúcháin aige. Tuigeann sé cosmhuintir na tíre agus is polaiteoir éifeachtach den scoth é. I will begin by acknowledging the work of Deputy Michael McGrath, who has resigned from th…

The Deputy is backtracking.

The Deputy is tracking back to the future.

So the Deputy will not be visiting Davy stockbrokers anytime soon.

That is not true.

I dtús báire, cuirim fáilte roimh an Teachta as ucht an cheist seo a ardú. Is dochreidte é go mbeadh stailc ann an tseachtain seo chugainn. Iarraim ar Aer Lingus agus ar IALPA teacht le chéile. Tá sé práinneach go mbeadh cainteanna ar siúl anois idir IALPA agus Aer Lingus. Tá dualgas orthu gach aon iarracht a dhéanamh chun an fhadhb seo a réiteach chomh luath agus is féidir. Tá muintir na tíre seo ag brath ar réiteach na faidhbe seo. I thank the Deputy for raising what is an extremely important issue. There is no q…

The Deputy has said herself that this dispute cannot be resolved on the floor of this House, and she invoked her own-----

-----experience in industrial relations, so I will not play politics with this on the floor of the House. I agree 100% that this is incredibly disruptive to many families, it is creating-----

-----unacceptable anxiety to many families-----

-----and it needs to be resolved. Given the Deputy’s experience in industrial relations, she knows full well that-----

-----the only way for this to be resolved is-----

-----in the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, or the Labour Court. Essentially, it has to be resolved within the industrial relations machinery. The Deputy knows that, I know that, and most people in this House know that. I urge both sides, in the interests of the people of this country, to get around the table and hammer out a resolution to this issue. That is the only way this can be done. The Deputy and I both know that.

The Deputy has identified the challenges, just as I have.