Deputies have up to a minute each.

The finance Bill is set to be published next week. Will the concrete block levy be part of it? We have heard conflicting reports and briefings. I put it to the Minister that the proposal for this concrete block levy should be scrapped. It is a ludicrous notion to increase the cost of building homes at a time when we are facing an unprecedented housing and inflationary crisis. Incredibly, those families that were impacted by the defective blocks scandal and Celtic tiger-era fire safety defects will be forced to pay more to rebuild under this levy. Will the Minister please break through the spin for us, and the briefings and reports, and let us know whether the finance Bill will include provision for this levy? Will he consider a sensible approach and scrap the levy in favour of a more reasonable measure?

I will break through the Deputy's spin. He called for this levy and welcomed it.

No, I did not. That is not-----

That is the fact of the matter and we need to remind people of that.

The Minister knows it is not.

The finance spokesperson for the Deputy's party welcomed the levy on the day it was announced in the Dáil. Let us put that on the record and be straight.

Will the Minister answer the question?

The Government is engaging with all those who have expressed a view on this issue. The finance Bill will be published. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, will give very careful consideration to all the issues that have been raised. However, we have to ensure that we can fund a €2.7 billion bill for the mica issue. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has a report on his desk relating to apartment defects, which could cost up to €2.5 billion to resolve. Between those two schemes, there is a bill of €5 billion that somebody will have to meet at some point in time. We will engage, we are considering all the points that have been raised and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, will respond.