Yesterday's report by the National Economic and Social Council shows that under Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, homeownership has gone in one direction, that is, down. The level of homeownership here is now in the bottom one third of the EU. Why is that the case? It is because of the policies that the Tánaiste's party has pursued, which have pushed up house prices. The Central Statistics Office yesterday reported that house prices rose by 8% in the past year. In the Border region they went up by 12% and in the west they went up by 15%, in part because Government policies are driving up house prices.

This is not just the view of Sinn Féin. It is also the view of Davy Stockbrokers, as reported in today's Irish Independent. An entire generation of young people are locked out of homeownership because of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael policies. Does the Tánaiste accept that the Government is making homeownership harder? Does he agree with the assessment of Davy Stockbrokers that the Government's policies are pushing up house prices? When will the Government deliver homes at a reasonable price that people can afford?

The Deputy has come a long way if he is now quoting Davy Stockbrokers to me. Perish the thought. I would be cautious about all of that if I were the Deputy.

Does that not say how bad things have got in terms of home ownership-----

The Deputy has come a long way.

-----when your own are even turning on you?

Fianna Fáil has been in government for the past two and a half years. Fianna Fáil has identified housing as one of our key issues.

Along with our colleague parties in Government, we are increasing State investment in housing. We have been building more houses, particularly social houses, in the last two and a half years than we have in more than a decade. We will continue with that. There is a wide variety of schemes, including schemes for affordable houses.

Does the Tánaiste accept that his Government's policies are pushing up house prices?

Sinn Féin opposed the help-to-buy scheme.

These policies are pushing up houses prices.

Its policies would have reduced supply while the help-to-buy scheme brought in by the previous Government has enabled thousands of people to buy homes.

Even the Davy Group is saying that these policies are pushing up house prices.

The Deputy's confidence in the Davy Group is revealing.

Even the Tánaiste's own are turning on him. He cannot deny the facts.

He did not even want to give them a bonus and now he is quoting them.