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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Election timing and housing figures

Summary

Deputy Martin asks whether the Taoiseach will dissolve the Dáil and disputes the Government’s claim about 13,000 new social housing units; the Chair directs him to the later debate.

That is a good cue for me to put the question to the Taoiseach. Will he confirm that he will be coming into the House on Tuesday to dissolve the Dáil and go to Áras an Uachtaráin to commence the general election? He might be in a position to confirm that.

A Cheann Comhairle, I want the record of the House corrected because last night the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, spoke on the Private Members' motion introduced by Deputy Barry Cowen about increasing the number of social housing units, and he stated that 13,000 new social housing units had been built in 2015, which is not the truth and not a clear representation of that.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

We cannot debate that here.

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These are not new social housing units, be it transfers from rent allowance-----

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

The Deputy will be replying to the debate later when I am sure he can make that point.

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-----to the housing assistance payment and so on.

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They are new tenancies.

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Yes, but it is playing with language. To be honest-----

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

We are not debating that now.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

Deputy, please do not encourage him. Thank you.

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People are fed up with this misuse and abuse of language in terms of trying to camouflage Government achievements when we all know that housing and homelessness-----

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Back to the use of bad language.

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The position in terms of housing and homelessness-----

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

Hold on a second. This is the Order of Business.

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The record needs to be corrected, and I ask that it be corrected.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

The Deputy can raise that in the Private Members' debate tonight.

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