I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. I spoke with Paul Givan, First Minister, at the British-Irish Association conference in Oxford on 3 September. My most recent detailed engagement with him and with the deputy First Minister was on 30 July when I chaired the latest plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council via videoconference. This wide-ranging discussion between our two governments covered the ongoing co-operation between North and South in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including …

I thank Deputies Haughey and Richmond for raising these issues. I thank Deputies Tóibín and McDonald for their questions. Deputy Haughey asked about my meeting with the new DUP leader and the issue of the Executive in the North. The DUP leader took the opportunity to highlight his concerns. He left me in no doubt that there is unionist concern over the protocol. Whether you agree or disagree, that was his main purpose in the meeting. Our point back was that Europe was in solution mode and wants to create a flexible…

I move: That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney T.D. A motion seeking the removal of a member of Government is a serious matter. Since the foundation of the State, Dáil Éireann has held that these motions are the most serious that can be tabled. They are supposed to mark an important statement on fundamental policy failures or a serious legal issue. The sad reality is that the issue of confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence before the House…

The Deputy's alleged facts are again wrong. There is no disagreement on the prioritisation of housing by this Government. In fact, over the past month or so we have seen a manifestation of the commitment by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to radically change the approaches to housing in terms of social housing, affordable housing, cost rental, getting voids back in use much more quickly, and in a whole range of supports for people to enable them to buy their own houses. The key issue will be…

-----to house construction in this country.

The issue in terms of tackling the housing crisis will not be one of resources. It will be one of delivery and getting projects built - getting them built in Tallaght, getting them built in Clondalkin, getting them built in Galway, Cork and around the country. That means that parties such as the Deputy's no longer have the luxury of opposing significant housing projects when it suits them to do so for votes on the ground. She has never responded to the points I have made to her in that regard. I have listed them al…

The resources will be there-----

I am saying this collectively. The Government will-----

I would say to the Deputy-----

-----that she should be under no illusion, and I would-----

With respect, I have the floor, Deputy.

A Cheann Comhairle-----

-----I lead a Government that will invest more in social housing than any other in history. I lead the Government that will get the State and local authorities building homes again despite Sinn Féin's objections-----

-----and I lead the Government that will face Sinn Féin down-----

-----and everybody else who tries just to object for their own electoral advantage.

This is out of order.

I am sorry, but what is going on here is out of order.

My genuine view is that we have to be solution driven in respect of housing. I get the housing crisis, and nothing motivates me more in government as Taoiseach than exploring every available option to get more houses built and houses that are affordable for people to buy, and also to get more social houses built that people can get access to. In addition, we are looking at other options, such as cost-rental, which the Minister is developing and will allow for houses to be rented at 25% below market value. We want t…

It is great to call for it, but it is just not doable. We have explored all aspects in relation to rent and rent freezes and we have been very clearly advised that it is not constitutional. That is just the position. It is easy to call for it. We are in the engine room in government and we have to-----

It is true, Deputy. We have to deal with what we can do and so forth. I think the Minister's initiative has been quite significant in terms of reducing the amount that rents can be increased by in line with inflation, which I think is a good step forward and one that was asked for in the House in terms of reducing the 4%. He did that.