Richard Boyd Barrett Demands Debate on Housing Commission Report
Richard Boyd Barrett criticised the Taoiseach for repeatedly avoiding a debate on the Government's Housing Commission report and demanded that the report be debated in the Dáil. He argued the Commission's findings show a failed housing policy, with inadequate targets that the Government cannot meet.
He said deputies had requested a debate every week since publication of the 250-page Housing Commission report and accused the Taoiseach of running away from the debate for nine months. He reiterated his willingness to debate the report and challenged the Government to schedule the discussion it commissioned.
He told the chamber the report exposes shortcomings in current housing policy - targets are inadequate and are not being met. He said criticism followed when he referenced parts of the report, but insisted the truth about policy failure must be aired.
He noted that opposition time and private members' time exist for raising issues such as the Housing Commission report or the Children's Hospital. He called for the speedy establishment of Oireachtas committees and said government time must be ring-fenced to progress legislation and make decisions.
He argued there should be a clear separation between government and opposition time so both can raise matters of concern. He described that separation as normal and referenced it as "normal and natural for Annie Doyle," stating that was his view.
Call for immediate debate
He said deputies had requested a debate every week since publication of the 250-page Housing Commission report and accused the Taoiseach of running away from the debate for nine months. He reiterated his willingness to debate the report and challenged the Government to schedule the discussion it commissioned.
Findings of the Housing Commission
He told the chamber the report exposes shortcomings in current housing policy - targets are inadequate and are not being met. He said criticism followed when he referenced parts of the report, but insisted the truth about policy failure must be aired.
Parliamentary time and procedure
He noted that opposition time and private members' time exist for raising issues such as the Housing Commission report or the Children's Hospital. He called for the speedy establishment of Oireachtas committees and said government time must be ring-fenced to progress legislation and make decisions.
Division between government and opposition time
He argued there should be a clear separation between government and opposition time so both can raise matters of concern. He described that separation as normal and referenced it as "normal and natural for Annie Doyle," stating that was his view.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy warns of climate catastrophe over data centres and LNG
Brendan Smith
Brendan Smith demands repeal of British legacy legislation, access
Rose Conway-Walsh
Rose Conway-Walsh on the Good Friday Agreement and the Shared Island
Mattie McGrath
Mattie McGrath on suicides and mental health failings in Clonmel
Michael Collins
Michael Collins warns on 27-month autism waits and mental health gaps
George Lawlor
George Lawlor urges urgent action on special education crisis
Transcript
Taoiseach, Taoiseach, I was grimly amused by your suggestion earlier on today that you were calling for a housing debate. We have been asking since the publication of the Housing Commission report, 250-page report, commissioned by the Government every week for a debate on the Housing Commission report, and you have run away from it every single week for nine months, and again this week. So, can we finally have a debate you say you want on the Housing Commission report that you published, but of course we know you don't want to debate it because it tells the truth about your failed housing policy, how your targets are completely inadequate and you're not able to meet the targets anyway. In terms of the Housing Commission, it seems to me that the deputies opposite are opposed to a lot of what is on the Housing Commission. When I reference one area of it, I get attacked, so I have no issue with a debate on the Housing Commission. By the way, if I could say this, we have had a debate every week, and I just want to make a general point, and we are looking at standing orders and so on like that, in terms of the order of business. It is about government time, it is about opposition time. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the opposition, in opposition time, discussing any of the issues that you have raised. The Housing Commission, you could have raised that on private members, the Children's Hospital you could have raised, or any other issue that you believe should be raised. I don't think any other Parliament in Europe has as much time devoted to opposition as this Parliament does. That is a fact, but I can tell you, when we get settled down, and I agree we should get the Oireachtas committees established, I would agree with the Deputy who raised that issue, I have no issue with that, as quickly as we possibly can. Government time has to be ring-fenced as well, to get legislation through, and to get decisions through. There will be time for opposition, but we can have it that you have private members and opposition time, and then say we want more government time to discuss what other things you want to discuss. There is going to be a division between government and opposition times, as is normal and natural for Annie Doyle. That is our view.