I am glad that Senator Mary Moran believes something "really needs to be done" to address the housing issue because those of us on this side of the House have been raising it for the past five years, not just the past five weeks.

I am sorry, but I have been raising it for the past five years.

Senator David Cullinane to continue, without interruption.

The Senator might have done so, but her party has done precious little to deal with the housing problem.

Excuse me, but all of us have been raising it. I am not politicising the issue. I am saying what is necessary.

But I am politicising it. The housing crisis, with people sleeping in cars and in emergency accommodation, did not happen by accident. It happened because of Government policy and neglect. It happened because the State had not built social housing. We have surrendered social housing provision to the private sector. This was done by the previous Government under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. While an element of that Act was necessary, almost all social housing construction stopped once Part V came on stream. The State has not built any social housing since. The majority of people have been left to the mercy of private landlords through the HAP scheme and the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. As we have stated in the House every week for the past few years, most people who are in this situation cannot find private rented accommodation or landlords who will sign up to these schemes. While all of this was happening, nothing was done to increase the supply of social and affordable housing that citizens needed. This has led to increased homelessness and a housing crisis. I am glad that the Government is at least accepting that there is a crisis, but we need investment. The Government parties' election mantra is about cutting taxes left, right and centre. They are not discussing the need to invest in housing, health care or the social services that people need. A debate on housing in required and it will be held in the next five weeks as part of the election campaign. I make no apology for making this a political issue because that is what it is. The non-provision of State housing is clearly a political issue, as well as the political responsibility of the parties in government that created the crisis. Some of us did not need to see a "Prime Time" programme to understand the seriousness of the issue.

We do not need a programme about the place where Sinn Féin is in power.

Senator David Cullinane to continue, without interruption.

There is a homelessness crisis there.

Some of us work in our constituencies and have dealt with people throughout the past five years.

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

We knew exactly the depth of this problem and the tragedy that it presented for many working families. I am calling for a debate on the issue. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister with responsibility for housing to attend the Seanad? If that does not happen, seeing as how we only have a few weeks left, we will have it-----

Is the Senator proposing an amendment to the Order of Business?

Not today. I am making a reasonable request of the Leader that he try to arrange for a debate as soon as possible.