Cuirim fáilte roimh an mBille. The legislation has been introduced and the Minister of State talked about its swift passage, but let us call a spade a spade. We need its swift passage because the European Commission has begun proceedings because the Government delayed the transposition of this directive. The European Commission last month took the first step in infringement proceedings against the Government by sending a formal notice to the State for failing to fully transpose the motor insurance directive, which …

Tá tuilleadh moille tagtha ar ospidéal na leanaí, agus tuilleadh airgid ag teastáil. Tá an Rialtas ina gcodladh agus é seo uilig ag titim amach agus ag dul le sruth. Many years ago, when Deputy Leo Varadkar was Minister for Health, he said that short of an asteroid hitting the planet, the national children's hospital would be built by 2020. Today we have learned that the fiasco continues in respect of the building of the national children's hospital as it spirals further out of control. The board overseeing the pro…

Those words really came out of the Tánaiste's mouth, that his Government is determined that the taxpayer will get value for money in respect of the national children's hospital. Is he serious? It has gone from €650 million up to €2.2 billion and the chair of the board cannot guarantee that it will not go higher. If you want an example of Government incompetence, then look no further than the national children's hospital. Costs are blooming, the taxpayer is paying the bill, we have delay after delay, every single ta…

It is not what penalty-----

The Government guaranteed those timelines.

The Government is asleep at the wheel and the Tánaiste will not answer the question concerning 2026.

It is-----

I will try again but the Tánaiste never gives a direct answer. I asked him a simple question. After spending €2.2 billion, there has been complete incompetence from the Government with the national children's hospital. He cannot even tell us if he believes the hospital will be open to treat children by 2026. That was a simple question. I will try again about the Government's other fiasco, the housing crisis, which has a crippling effect on society. Many are unable to find a home or place to live. Today, we have the…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 180(2). It is important that insurance companies are held to account. I ask that the Government stop objecting to this legislation and make sure that savings are passed on to customers and not the profits of the insurance companies.

Inné, d'fhoilsigh an Rialtas tuarascáil an Choimisiúin Tithíochta, tuarascáil nach raibh sé sásta a fhoilsiú ach amháin go bhfuair RTÉ a chuid lámha air. Déanann sé cáineadh millteanach ar an Rialtas agus ar an méid atá déanta nó nach bhfuil déanta aige ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta agus an dóigh atá cúrsaí tithíochta á láimhseáil. Tá deis anois de dhíth faoi choinne an Dáil seo an tuarascáil seo a phlé go mion. Last week, I asked the Tánaiste to tell me where the 50,000 affordable homes were that he promised to build…

For four minutes, the Minister could not even get a couple of words to defend his own record.

I understand the trouble you are in, Darragh. You know what I do agree with? I agree with the Housing Commission when it said there is a need for a radical reset in Government policy. I agree with the commission when it reports on reactive policymaking by the Government undermining affordability. I agree with it when it refers to ineffective decision-making. I agree with the commission-----

You can heckle all you want. I agree with the commission when it says there is insufficient progress-----

-----because I know the lived experience of people right across this State. I asked you a simple question. Do you agree with those proposals? This is Leaders' Questions. Do you agree with those proposals? I asked you a simple question, which is the same question I asked your leader. Where the hell are the 50,000 homes, Darragh, that you promised would be delivered if you were in government? You are the Minister for housing. You promised 50,000 homes would be delivered at prices between €160,000 and €250,000. A week…

Really?

You do not turn up when Eoin Ó Broin is looking for debates on RTÉ.

I am happy to swap seats with you if you will not answer the questions from here. This is Leaders' Questions. If the Government wants to take over the Opposition, we will happily go over there and the Government can ask us the questions. Please answer the questions. It is Leaders' Questions.

Come on. You are in government.

You are in government.

It is. Answer the question.