I thank the 12 Members of the House for their contributions to the Order of Business. Senator Leyden, in his usual dramatic presentation - Senator Mullen will enjoy this - fails to recognise that the Holy Family were not homeless in Bethlehem. They could not find accommodation. They were from Nazareth and they returned to their home in Nazareth. If the Senator wants to use the Holy Family in the context of the housing debate, he should get his facts right.

I was not there and I was not trained for the priesthood like the Senator. However, I can tell him-----

I will leave it to-----

-----that there was no room at the inn. There was no accommodation in Bethlehem. The Senator's party is providing the same level of accommodation for young children in Dublin.

If Senator Leyden wants to-----

I have no control over the content of what the Senator or the Leader have said.

I know as much about the matter as Senator Buttimer.

I must ask Senator Leyden to remain silent-----

I cannot.

-----when the Leader responds.

Will the Leas-Chathaoirleach allow me to respond?

No. The Senator is out of order. He knows that. He is a long time in this House.

If Senator Leyden wants to invoke the name of the Holy Family, he should get his facts right. They were not homeless. They were going to Bethlehem to fulfil the census obligation. The difficulty they had in finding temporary accommodation is very different from what the Senator outlined.

They were migrants.

Senator Leyden.

They were not migrants.

Herod wanted to kill him.

The Leader, without interruption, please.

Does the Leader think a stable is adequate?

We want to hear the Leader, without interruption.

Let us make it quite clear.

I suppose they were migrants when they went to Egypt.

That is different. Senator Leyden did not refer to that.

I think Senator Bacik pointed that out.

Senator Leyden did not open up and cross-----

In honour of the Holy Family, we will come to the business-----

The word "bedlam" comes from Bethlehem. It is easy to understand that when one is in this House.

I will take the Senator's word on that.

Are we going to Booking.com?

It is typical of Senator Leyden that he fails to recognise, as is normal, that €2.4 billion - the highest ever amount in the history of the Government of this country - is being spent on housing and homelessness.

Some €3 billion is being spent on broadband-----

How many times have I to say-----

We need broadband in Roscommon.

-----and €1.9 billion for the hospital.

The Senator's party leader is not in favour of the national broadband strategy.

Of course he is.

That again shows the hypocrisy of Fianna Fáil.

No. I am comparing the-----

Some €2.4 billion is being spent on housing and homelessness.

The Leader should carry on.

Before Rebuilding Ireland, child homelessness was increasing at a rate of 5%. It is now at 1%. Some 15,000 first-time buyers are out of the rental trap through the help-to-buy scheme. Senator Leyden did not refer to that, nor did he comment on the fact that supply is up 25% and that 64,000 new social houses are being built. He did not refer to Rebuilding Ireland. An additional 30,000 planning permissions were granted last year, one in three of which was for social housing, to which, again, the Senator did not refer. Nor did he make reference to the fact that never before in the history of the State has more social housing been built than is being built under this Government.

Happy days.

The Senator forgot to tell the people that the Government he voted for regularly decimated the building sector, changed the provision of social housing and destroyed our construction sector. That would never interest him in giving his-----

We built Ireland.

Order, please.

A total of 12,000 people exited homelessness last year. We accept that there is a challenge ahead. That is why we are working on this matter. It is a priority for the Government. I will make the point one more time for Senator Leyden. Some €2.4 billion, the highest amount ever in the history of the State, will be spent on housing and homelessness.

I welcome a former Ceann Comhairle and friend, Dr. Rory O'Hanlon, to the Gallery. He is very welcome.

Dr. O'Hanlon is very welcome.

Senator Craughwell-----

I heard there was a row at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting.

Senator Leyden is entitled to his selectivity when he is speaking. He must remain silent-----

It is very difficult.

-----while the Leader responds, however.

Would I not love to be Leader of the House?

The Leader, without interruption.

I could reply to Senator Buttimer.

The Senator might have his turn yet.

He could be Leader yet; He is learning.

Order, please.