For 30-odd years, Sinn Féin opposed the European Union. One of the most progressive things we did in this country and Sinn Féin opposed it in referendum after referendum. When Brexit comes along, it does a massive U-turn and says it is all for the European Union. For 30-odd years, it railed against the European Union and it is still a reluctant participant, if the truth be told, in terms of the European Union agenda. Deputy Kelly raised several issues. There has to be a focus on young people in terms of housing. Th…

The Deputy welcomed them. I accept that they were different times.

The Deputy said at the time: In order to stimulate housing supply, the Minister, Deputy Noonan, is implementing a number of key policies and initiatives, such as the introduction of the real estate investment trust, REIT, tax regime encouraging large-scale investment in the commercial and residential property markets...

You said at the time it was vital.

I will take the point that the context of the time was that investment was required to get supply going.

I am just making the point.

Young people have suffered the most as a result of Covid in the context of education, employment and housing. We now have to deal with that. There is a requirement for a new deal for young people as we emerge from Covid. That is what we absolutely need to do. I believe in home ownership. I believe in supporting home ownership initiatives. I am not clear that Sinn Féin does, for example. I just do not get that sense at all from any of its commentary or policy plans. In terms of Deputy Boyd Barrett's point in respect…

We want to get homelessness down to very low levels. There has been a reduction of 36% in family homelessness, with families emerging from the emergency centres. There has been a 19% reduction overall. The Minister has been active on the homeless question and is engaging on a constant basis with the NGOs. Personally and as leader of the Government, I want to do everything we possibly can to reduce homelessness. It reflects on us a society that it has grown dramatically over time. We need to deal with it. There have…

Deputy Paul Murphy spoke about public governance challenges on climate. My language has always been temperate. The comments I made yesterday were in good faith in terms of a public debate. This Government has brought in a groundbreaking climate change Bill that sets very strong challenges. The context of my remarks is that we need to bring people with us. I have concerns about divisions arising around this. That is my main point. We cannot suppress political commentary on these matters either, because they are impo…

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. The parliamentary liaison unit in my Department assists the Government in its relationship with the Oireachtas. It works with the Office of the Government Chief Whip on issues that arise at the Business Committee and the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform, including Dáil reform proposals and amendments to Standing Orders. The unit supports the Chief Whip's office in the implementation of the Government's legislation programme. In addition, the unit assis…

Sometimes the truth can hurt.

Deputy McDonald is very sensitive about the truthful and factual situation-----

-----that Sinn Féin has opposed many housing projects.

That includes its opposition to the development on Oscar Traynor Road.

I am clear that we need to get projects that are shovel-ready off the ground. We need to get them built.

We cannot go on arguing about a whole range of projects for another five or six years . That seems to be the Deputy's intention. We cannot keep on doing that on the issue of housing supply. In response to Deputy Kelly's point, what I said was factual.

I disagree with that.

What we need right now is investment to get supply going.

The State is the biggest actor and player in housing at the moment in terms of funding and the provision of housing. That cannot be denied. However, we need more than that to get the volume of houses that are required for the young people of this country. That is what is required.

First, I have to say that the Government is ten months in office. During those ten months, we have been dealing with an unprecedented global pandemic which has had a huge impact on the people and, indeed, on sectors of our economy. It has also had an impact on the construction industry. Notwithstanding that, the Government has committed to, and provided the funding for, the largest multi-annual social housing programme in the history of the State. That is the core of the Government's policy programme. A total of €3…