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making a constant effort to misrepresent and mislead the Irish people on the measures we took in relation to housing supply, but they are the right measures. We took a decision to reduce the cost of building an apartment to help to make sure more apartments are built

Irish Government co-operates in respect of inquiries, such as the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. That is unanimously agreed across this House. We should also have the right to state that we expect the same level of co-operation from the British Government, which has not been the case … loyalists in collusion with the British state, regardless, they all have the same right to truth and justice. We should make that a principle we all agree to and that we agree this House will do whatever is necessary to create the mechanism for which that will happen

Deputy is right that there were differing views on the commission, and well-reasoned views I think on both sides among the commission members as set out in the various reports. While it was a majority it is not that straightforward either due to the different views … communities. Very strong communities are essential in the way we do things. That is where my priority is right now. I am not against a referendum on putting housing into the Constitution but it is not where my priority is right now and certainly not in my first

country where the majority of tenants are covered by an effective no-fault eviction ban. There was a debate in this House as to the right way to do that and there was debate about making sure that policies did not result in smaller landlords, those with

banks transferring loans to vulture funds. Whether it is a farm or a house, the receivers come and do their best. In many cases, they have succeeded in selling homes and property whose rightful owners ran into a bit of bother. If a couple got into trouble … rent out their houses for six years. For those people who own, buy or are trying to pay back a house, it is their constitutional and democratic right to do whatever they like with it. That is how I feel about it and nothing will ever move

promise to hold a referendum on marriage equality, which as well know passed by a landslide. Many of the civil rights passed in this House were because of the Labour Party and it is something we are very proud to say. At the end of 2025, the Labour … repeat my party's steadfast commitment to advancing the rights of those who identify as non-binary and people who are intersex. They have waited too long for this debate. As I said previously in the House, we must stand with them today and every day. I look

State, Deputy O'Sullivan, will know the good work that is going on right across the county. I had the pleasure of taking the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, to social housing projects in Macroom and Coachford recently and I see the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan … past weeks. It is good to see progress is being made but certainly from a social housing perspective, I would like to see that good work continue right throughout this year and into the future

investment to 2035 to secure Ireland's future and unlocking housing, upgrading our water and energy infrastructure, delivering more roads and providing more public transport. This investment will deliver real impacts for rural and regional Ireland right down to the heart of our communities. We are what … housing and planning. I also welcome the continuation of the 9% reduction in the VAT rate on energy for everybody. Housing is a serious issue right now, and we in Government recognise that. Every elected Member of this Chamber has stories about their communities and people

know the cohort of people who are above the social housing income limits but not in a position to acquire a house in their own right. We need to support those individuals and couples but unfortunately, at present, there is a gap in the supports that are available

above 20,000 and we are trying to get the balance right between tourism and housing. It is important to note, there will be an obligation to register. The Bill is the short-term letting and tourism legislation. We published that, as the Deputy knows. We got Cabinet

mind the journey towards getting an allocation. Individuals in our society who urgently require the support of public housing and emergency accommodation must have clearer pathways to accessing those rights. They must not be presented with further hurdles and complications. The Minister has assured us the Bill will … must not ignore these calls for help. The core of these issues arises from the proposed right to reside and habitual residence conditions as prerequisites to receive public housing. Various front-line groups have cautioned that these measures risk the exclusion of at-risk individuals from the basic

were closed during the Covid pandemic is due to be appointed very shortly. We will certainly keep everybody across the House updated on that. The Deputy is right that this case raises very significant issues. In the first case we need to try to establish as many facts … possibly can. We then need to work collaboratively across this House to make sure that our legislative basis is right. There will be a couple of opportunities to do this: the commitment in relation to the Child Care Act to increase the powers of Tusla and provide

right now. Many of us have long argued that the State must scale up its involvement in ensuring that housing inequalities are addressed and that everybody has a right to a roof over their head. It was that approach and that strong belief in the State’s ability … government. We took the policy levers we were able to leverage in terms of bringing new approaches in that would broaden access to housing, especially for those on lower incomes. This was done primarily through the introduction of the cost-rental model – the Vienna model – to Ireland, which

policy certainty. The resourcing of the Residential Tenancies Board is also very important to landlords and in certain circumstances the Bill gives the right to reset rents, which is something that landlords have called for. Again, it is about striking that balance. If we do not have both … committee. I know they have been making submissions in recent days as well. It is important we get this right before the Bill passes through the Houses because it is one opportunity we have to get this right. Valid points are being made on both sides

taxman. The issue of inheritance tax attracts an outsized proportion of media and political attention, mostly from people in this House on the political right. I understand how some people feel about this. I understand it is an issue that is personal to many people. I get that … PAYE workers. The seeds of much of the discontent felt now go back to last year’s notorious decision imposed on this House and the Government by the now Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Harris, to lash out over €700 million to the hospitality sector

being brought back into use is a disgrace and it tells a wider story about the Government's other failure in housing delivery. In communities right across the State we see the consequences of this every day in vacant homes gathering dust while families sit on waiting lists

allegations that were made in this House in respect of members of An Garda Síochána, who have no right to defend themselves in this House or do not have that facility

weeks before the election? Members of the Government parties came out and said they were building 40,000 houses, which they knew in their heart and soul was not right. They knew that in their heart and soul when they were doing their press conference … house. People are coming to me just when they have their mortgage approval, have saved hard and done everything right, but when they go to buy a house they cannot because house prices are going up faster than they can save. Does the Tánaiste think about whether

With others in this House, and I am quite certain people right across the entire country, we share the horror of what we have been seeing going on in Gaza and across the Middle East. The denial of humanitarian aid to citizens is, as the Taoiseach rightly said … that we, along with Spain and Norway recognised, and rightly so, Palestine as a state, was the right thing to do. It stands to this House and to the late Brian Lenihan senior who, as early as the 1970s and in the 1980s, as the then Minister

undress and produce nudified images is dehumanising, degrading and disgusting. There absolutely is an onus on all of us in the House - as the Deputy rightly says, it is not a party political issue - to come together to respond. I commit today that the Government absolutely will engage … Bill. My colleagues Deputies Boland, Butterly and Keogh are also producing a Bill on this issue. I am sure all parties in the House are considering how best to grapple with it. I want to say a couple of things on the record of the House

here that needs to be solved and the Bill proposes solutions. I look forward to working with all sides of the House to get the right solution

this Government to treat housing like the emergency that it is. Housing is not a commodity; it is a human right. The Government's failures on housing have become normalised, which is shocking. Nobody expects anything from this do-nothing Government which constantly fails our communities. There

published. The Deputy referred to protection for renters. He knows, because he voted against them, that we took measures in this House to strengthen the rights of tenants. He knows that there are people in his constituency in Donegal who are now covered by rent pressure zones … right to buy their own home. More than 27,500 people bought their own home in 2025, which was the highest number since 2007. More than 500 first-time buyers buy a first home every single week. When it comes to helping people in need of social housing

Housing Agency, which will specifically look at it. It will engage with the local authorities and come back to the Department with a report on this issue of financial contribution schemes. Delivering Homes, Building Communities will also increase choice for older people who voluntarily right-size by advancing … already mentioned, this includes a review of the operation of existing local authority financial contribution schemes and supporting social housing tenants who wish to voluntarily right-size to more suitable accommodation. The Department is already progressing these actions to support older people who choose to voluntarily right-size

genocide, murder, starvation, mass deportation, mass displacement and ethnic cleansing are not in our name. Tonight, everybody in this House will have a chance to be on the right side of history. I urge every Member of the House, in both opposition and government, to be on that