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(Speaker Continuing)
[The Taoiseach:   ] One cannot just put them into prefabricated buildings here, there and everywhere. There is a process to be gone through.
(Interruptions).
The Taoiseach: If the Deputy does not wish to hear the truth, do not listen to it. A process must be gone through to provide proper housing accommodation for people who need it.
Deputy Emmet Stagg: Fianna Fáil caused it when it stopped building ten years ago.
The Taoiseach: That means blocks, concrete, bricks and mortar. It means one must put in place a process to know what must be provided and go through the proper channels to secure planning permission and so forth. We have said quite clearly that the construction sector must step up to the mark. We cannot have any more pyrite and Priory Halls. Of course it is a priority for the people who are homeless.
Deputy Barry Cowen: It is not a priority.
The Taoiseach: God love them, we are anxious to do something for them as quickly as possible. However, the Deputy will not get an answer to her question tomorrow. There is a process to be gone through, including planning, the provision of sites and the provision of finance to build these houses and move people into them. Even the Deputy knows one cannot do that in the space of a couple of months. What one must do is set out the steps and strategy-----
Deputy Barry Cowen: The Government has had three years.
The Taoiseach: Yes, and it has gone on all during the years, Deputy Cowen. The Deputy is not responsible for any of this, but we know what happened-----
Deputy Joan Collins: The Taoiseach is in power now.
The Taoiseach: -----and we are still paying the price. God knows, the people who are homeless on the streets and those who need housing are paying the price of greed and profligacy and money being fired around this country like confetti during the so-called boom years.
Deputy Timmy Dooley: You were demanding much more.
The Taoiseach: We must clean up that mess too, and we will.
Business of Dáil
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: We will now move to the next business, statements on the Government's priorities for the year ahead.
Deputy Micheál Martin: On a point of order, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I wish to protest in the strongest possible terms-----
Deputy Jerry Buttimer: That is not a point of order.
Deputy Micheál Martin: -----the suppression of the Order of Business. Most Members came to the House thinking there would be an Order of Business this week-----
Deputy Jerry Buttimer: The Deputies agreed that last Thursday.
Deputy Micheál Martin: No; the Government forced it through the House last Thursday in a very undemocratic manner. What we are having today is basically a series of set-piece speeches-----
Deputy Jerry Buttimer: That is not a point of order.
Deputy Micheál Martin: -----to spin this and that. It has nothing to do with substantive policy.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputy Martin-----
Deputy Micheál Martin: Two weeks ago we agreed to have substantive statements on housing policy-----
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputy Martin-----
Deputy Micheál Martin: -----and the Government agreed to that debate-----
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputy Martin, I am on my feet.
Deputy Micheál Martin: There was supposed to be a discussion on housing two weeks ago.
(Interruptions).
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Deputy Martin, I will have to suspend the House.
Deputy Micheál Martin: We would like to raise some legislative items with the Government. I seek an explanation as to why the Government has ordered the business of the House in such a way that we cannot even have an Order of Business this week, or discuss or raise issues to do with legislation. There is not a single legislative measure before the House this week from the Government, although there is from the Opposition.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Please, Deputy Martin.
Deputy Micheál Martin: It is a disgrace. It is the usurpation of the Parliament by the Executive for its own purposes and nothing else. It is absolutely cynical and disgraceful.
(Interruptions).
Deputy Eric Byrne: Would the Deputy prefer we were talking about Ivor Callely?
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Can we have some order? There was a discussion on this last Thursday when the Order of Business was decided. The Taoiseach might have another proposal on this. I call the Taoiseach.
The Taoiseach: This matter was decided last Thursday.
Deputy Barry Cowen: It was railroaded through.
The Taoiseach: Last week, without even being asked for it, the Government gave Members not only a debate and statements but also questions and answers. It is a measure of how generous we can be but, of course, the Deputy will not mention that.
Deputy Micheál Martin: What is the Taoiseach talking about? There are no questions and answers.
The Taoiseach: It is proposed, notwithstanding Standing Orders-----
Deputy Micheál Martin: I just raised a point of order. The Chief Whip did not know, as late as this morning, how the speeches would be organised. He did not even know how the blocks of speakers would be organised. There was complete disagreement all morning between the Whips.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Let us hear from the Taoiseach.
Deputy Micheál Martin: It was completely disorganised. The Government did not know what way it wished to organise this. It is absolutely disgraceful.
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I call on the Taoiseach to announce the statements.
The Taoiseach: It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders or the order of the Dáil of 27 February regarding the arrangements for the statements on the Government's priorities for the year ahead, that the statements of each other Member called upon after the opening statements shall not exceed 30 minutes in each case.
Deputy Timmy Dooley: Where are the questions and answers? |
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