I do not know what Deputy Gould talked to them about but they met them twice.

They have come out and said that what Sinn Féin said about it being 25% simply is not true. They said that the 25% was a projected figure over ten years. Deputy Doherty left that out. It is a projected figure over a period of ten years. Sinn Féin obviously recognises, or at least I think it does, there is a need for private investment to come into the rental market. I presume it does because its members keep meeting the companies. The lobbying register is full of times they, particularly Deputy Ó Broin, have met th…

What I would say to the young people at home-----

Do not shout me down.

I would like my time protected to answer the question.

I would say to the people watching at home, yesterday, Sinn Féin came into the Dáil and suggested people’s rents were going to rise by 25% in March.

Today, the Sinn Féin spokesperson has acknowledged that is not a fact-----

-----and actually acknowledged a moment ago that his figures may take a number of years to come about.

It has been found out today on national radio by people saying the Sinn Féin leader's representation in this House yesterday was a complete mischaracterisation. Hypocrisy-----

May I speak, please?

Hypocrisy from Sinn Féin is not new when it comes to housing.

We have a situation where Sinn Féin talks about investors as though it does not like them, as though they are not good.

The Sunday Times last week showed Sinn Féin has received millions

I would like to speak.

It is very unfair.

Sorry, but there is a serious issue here.

If I am allowed, in line with the rules of the House, to respond-----

-----in the minute that is given to me to respond to the charges that are put across this House. The position put forward by Sinn Féin in telling people their rents are going to rise by 25% is categorically untrue. It is being done to scaremonger and to worry. Sinn Féin talks about investment funds as though they are the big bad wolf while regularly meeting them, according to the lobbying register, and while accepting millions of dollars from construction companies and property developers in Friends of Sinn Féin in…

They are hypocrites when it comes to this. We are on the side of renters. That is why we are increasing supply-----

-----and bringing in rent protection that nobody has ever seen before.