-----and it will need investment in infrastructure. It will need the provision of State land for affordable housing. Many projects have been objected to on the councils by the colleagues of those on the other side of this House and that has happened because there has been a mix of affordable, social and other forms of housing.

Opposition parties have taken an absolutist position that it is one type of housing or nothing. In the crisis in which we are currently find ourselves, we must build far more houses than we have been over the last number of years. That will take a variety of initiatives and approaches. I have no objection to any type of approach, by the way. I believe in a very strong social housing programme and always have done because, historically, my party always built substantial social housing. It was a raison d'être for the…

The Deputy is wrong and has completely ignored the impact of Covid-19 on house construction in the past 12 months. He completely brushed the latter aside. We were closed down early last year and, unfortunately, early this year. That, however, will not stop us in terms of the funding we have allocated to social housing. It has been allocated to the direct build of social houses, which is what we want to do and are committed to doing. We are going to have to empower the councils to do that in addition to other ways o…

This has been going on for years. Every time someone comes up with a proposal, Opposition parties feel that they have to find a way to object to it. I wonder why. It just goes on and on. Deputy Boyd Barrett opposes everything. Every item of legislation. It is his way or the highway.

We are not building enough houses in this country right now. We need all hands on deck in order to get houses built for people. That is what we need, not just the exploitation of the issue for electoral advantage, which is what I see repeatedly, time and time again.

I appreciate the Deputy raising this very important matter. I also appreciate that the Deputy supports the broad thrust of the policy and its underpinning rationale. We are seven months away from the introduction of minimum unit pricing, which will happen next January, and I appeal to the Northern Ireland Executive, all political parties in the North and anyone with influence on those parties to support a measure like this in Northern Ireland in order that we can have complete alignment. There have been discussions…

We will do that. As I stated, I appeal to the Northern Ireland Executive on this. We are seven months away from this being implemented. The legislation was passed in 2018 and my understanding is it had all-party agreement at the time. The Northern Ireland Executive should align with this policy and I appeal to the parties to give this serious consideration. It is really designed to help young people and children, while avoiding the exploitation of below-cost selling, to be frank, and the patterns of alcohol consump…

I agree 100% and I agree with and support the Chief Medical Officer's view that, given the situation with the suppression of the virus and the vaccination programme, there is no good public health reason for these restrictions remaining in place. I urge that, where appropriate, all maternity services relax their restrictions. The updated national guidance issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre says it is generally appropriate to facilitate attendance by a partner through active labour and childbirth, a…

It is not mixed messaging.

There has been a bit of difference of opinion from the get-go. The Deputy knows that. The Deputy asked what is going on but he knows exactly what is going on.

People have different perspectives on the efficacy of antigen testing. I support the roll-out of antigen testing, as does the Government. The Government and the Minister established an expert group made up of a range of different disciplines and chaired by Professor Mark Ferguson, the chief scientific adviser and the CEO of Science Foundation Ireland. It has made a number of recommendations. It produced a majority report as there was some dissent and some reservations were articulated.

Therefore, it has already been operational in certain sectors such as meat plants. At European level, for example, the European Commission has promoted the use of antigen testing and has made supports available.

I never said to the Deputy that it was inappropriate for politicians to make-----

I did not interrupt the Deputy. I never said that about Bessborough because politicians write to planning authorities every day of the week to make observations.

Their observations are not ones that have to be taken on board but politicians are entitled to make observations. That is a fact so I would not have said that. This is a parliament and we are entitled to articulate perspectives. This Government has brought in a landmark climate change Bill

I did not interrupt the Deputy. I will deal with her questions. This Government has brought in a landmark climate Bill with significant challenges. We want to bring people with us on this journey to meet the significant challenges that will face many sectors, including agriculture, in meeting our climate change goals. We need to bring people on board and that means balance in the public debate. That is what I said yesterday in an even-handed tone and in a reasonable contribution in which we had good exchanges. The …

It would be useful for you to engage with them.

I come from a different perspective than the Deputy when it comes to An Garda Síochána. I have seen a consistent approach from the Deputy that always seeks to undermine An Garda Síochána and to cast it in a bad light in terms of being, as he said, biased or against young people. That is an outrageous thing to say. An Garda Síochána is not biased against young people. I have seen gardaí doing fantastic work with young people in disadvantaged communities, working with them in sport and working to help them get throug…

I am answering the question straight on because I know what the Deputy is at. What the Deputy is at is not sincere but is about painting a bleak and dark picture of the Garda being anti young people, racist or whatever. That is wrong. I disagree with it and I am convinced that the motivation behind An Garda Síochána with young people is a positive one. I have seen evidence of that

Unfortunately, the Covid restrictions-----