Among other things, the NRP addresses the housing crisis and challenges relating to housing. I again draw the Taoiseach's attention to a particular aspect of the housing crisis, namely people who are working, earning money, paying tax and contributing to our society who find themselves driven over the thresholds for social housing. Those thresholds are so low those people are losing their ten or 15 years on the housing list. When they start earning a few quid over the threshold, those years are all gone. However, b…

I would like to speak in support of these amendments. I do not see how it is at all credible that the Secretary General of the Department of Defence can sit on a body that is supposed to be an independent, external oversight body over the Defence Forces. As Deputy Berry has just pointed out, there is a glaring contradiction when you talk about having the right to remove people where there are conflicts of interest and then you ensure there is a conflict of interest by putting the Secretary General of the Department…

It says in the Bill that it does.

Okay. I will read it out, since the Tánaiste decided to interrupt me.

The Tánaiste maybe does not know what is in his own Bill.

What does it deal with?

Yes, the grievance process.

It is oversight over human resources. To be clear, this same person attempted to go to the WRC and discovered that he cannot go to the WRC because, apparently, people are deemed workers, not employees, when they are members of the Defence Forces, which seems ridiculous to me. Apparently they cannot go to the WRC with a case of penalisation. It looks like the Tánaiste's officials are confirming that. Where does this person go? He came to me. I tabled a question to the Department. The Secretary General, who oversees …

If he wants to explain to me now, he can. To me, that is just an instance of how there is a problem because, surely, an external oversight body should be precisely something that does not have that sort of cosy relationship or potential conflict of interest where it might not really be in its interest to admit there is a problem or something being done wrong and, therefore, it just takes the word of military management on an issue or grievance that has been raised by a member of the Defence Forces.

Not in great detail. No, I have not.

I said I have not been following it closely. I am not on the defence committee-----

-----but I spoke on Second Stage and I raised some of these concerns, and I am sure others did as well. For the record, we all spoke at length about some of the horrible stuff that went on, the impacts on the victims and the sexual, physical and other abuse. It is not fair to suggest that is not as big a concern. I do not know why this is a source of amusement. I honestly do not. It is incredible. I do not know what the smiles are about. We have all heard the testimonies and we are all keen to do something to make …

So let us keep it independent, not potentially - let us put it that way - compromised.

They were mentioned on Second Stage.

I have a few amendments in this grouping, including amendments Nos. 146, 156 and 166. In developing the national planning framework, I am seeking to include a more forceful imperative to include in that the need to provide for social, affordable and cost-rental housing objectives as set out in the housing strategy.

It is amendment No. 146. This amendment relates to the need to include specific objectives for providing social, affordable and cost-rental housing as set out in the housing strategy. Amendment No. 156 proposes that it should also include a requirement to make specific provision for sports and community facilities. Amendment No. 166 proposes to insert a new subsection to the effect that when considering building residential property, the development of at least 20% social housing and at least 30% social, affordable…

Does the Minister not respond first?

Has the Minister had his seven minutes?

To summarise my point, the imperative to deliver social and affordable housing has to work all the way through the planning system. The Government has failed to deliver social and affordable housing. It is as simple as that. We have a dire crisis. It is not getting any better. In fact, rents and house prices are becoming more unaffordable by the day. Even when the Government trumpets its success with claims that commencements, construction and completions are increasing, and the famous mantra of supply, supply, sup…

I move amendment No. 146: In page 65, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “(g) providing for social, affordable and cost rental housing objectives as set out in the housing strategy.”.