The Government must freeze rents and put a month's rent back into people's pockets by means of a refundable tax credit.

I know Deputy McDonald asked this question yesterday but, with respect, it is Leaders' Questions, and the Tánaiste did not answer any question. I put forward the facts from the RTB-----

It makes a mockery out of Leaders' Questions if the Tánaiste is going to involve himself in diversion every day.

Following on from the final matter raised on Leaders' Questions, yesterday the Taoiseach could not give an cast-iron guarantee that there will not be any blackouts as a result of electricity shortages. Yesterday it was reported that the Tánaiste was saying he was reasonably confident that there will not be any problems. People want more than that. People want to know there is a guarantee that there will not be blackouts. All the while, ordinary people are seeing prices increase and hikes in their bills because of t…

Failure to tackle this will simply lead to serious increased problems in bills.

Can I finish and ask this?

Could the Tánaiste support a debate in this House on the issue of the threats to our energy supply?

Tá na mic léinn taobh amuigh den Dáil agus iad ag agóid mar go bhfuil siad ag stopadh in óstáin, i lóistín Bhia agus Leaba agus i mbrúnna óige. Tá mic léinn eile ag taistil ar feadh uaireanta fada gach uile lá, óna dtithe féin, isteach go dtí an chathair ar maidin agus ar ais tráthnóna agus níos measa arís, tá mic léinn ag bogadh ó tholg go tolg gach oíche. Is í an cheist atá againn ná cá huair a bheidh deireadh leis an scannal seo? You would have to have a heart of stone not to be affected by the stories we heard …

This is not just a Covid story. Students down through the years have lived in tents, hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation and hostels. There is a housing crisis right across society, as I laid out for the Tánaiste, from mica families to the women we heard yesterday. What they had to say was devastating. I do not know whether the Tánaiste heard them but he should listen to what they said. This has happened because the Government has looked at homes as an investment, as a potential profit margin for investors or i…

Inflation is at 3%.

Get out of here. The Tánaiste has been in government for ten years and there are people lying in sheds without running water. He should be ashamed.

A bit of humility from him would go a long way. It is ridiculous.

Will the Tánaiste listen to the voices of the people? Forget what we are saying and listen to them. Have a bit of humility and maybe look at it through the prism of individuals as opposed to the landlords and speculators, whose side he always takes.

That is the reality. The truth hurts.

Did the Tánaiste listen to "Liveline" yesterday?

On learning of the sad passing of the former Teachta, Mervyn Taylor, on my behalf and behalf of Sinn Féin, I express sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues in the Labour Party. In April, the personal injuries guidelines came into effect and slashed personal injury awards. Finally, there was an opportunity for insurance premiums to be reduced significantly. Again, I ask that the Government remove the stay it has placed on my legislation, which would hold those insurance companies to account in terms of passi…

In June, thousands of homeowners and families affected by the mica and pyrite scandal travelled to Government Buildings in order to send a clear message, which was that they would not be forgotten. While I will ask the Minister about his involvement and responsibility in ensuring these families get 100% redress, I want to focus on families looking to move house because their houses are crumbling before them. However, since they already own a house that is mica-affected, they are required to have the 20% deposit. Th…

I would appreciate it if the Minister would do so. While we do not expect the Minister for Finance, even where he is the majority shareholder in a bank, to tell it how to lend its money. I am sure there has been communication between the Department, if not the Minister, and some of these financial institutions on the motion passed by the House which called for 100% redress and that financial institutions would play their part in that. Will the Minister elaborate on whether that wider issue of a contribution from th…

I appreciate the Minister will raise that specific issue which has affected many families who want to buy a second property. I have asked the Minister about the wider issue and given voice to the motion he supported in the House which called for 100% redress and that the financial institutions would play their part. Can he outline to the Dáil whether he or his Department have had contact with any of the banks with regard to their contributing to a scheme that will be announced later on this year?

We know that some of these large profitable companies will organise their tax affairs in a way to limit their tax liability. In 2017, after parliamentary questions and campaigning by Christian Aid, the Minister called out aggressive tax planning and closed it down as a result of the agreement. The problem is that while the agreement appears to be working in terms of what is in it, it is narrowly defined and therefore there is this cat and mouse game. They have found a way around it. There is a complex arrangement i…