Taoiseach, Soc Dems clash over housing in heated Dáil row

Résumé détaillé

Social Democrats Spokesperson on Housing Rory Hearne and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have traded bitter accusations over the State's ongoing housing crisis.

Social Democrats Spokesperson on Housing Rory Hearne and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have traded bitter accusations over the State's ongoing housing crisis.

During Leaders' Questions, the pair accused each other of ideological hypocrisy and a failure to deliver on housing for young people and others.

Mr Hearne accused the Taoiseach of being out of touch with the human toll of the housing crisis, citing cases in his own constituency.

"It's incredible to see you getting worked up over this," Mr Hearne said. "It's a pity you're not worked up about the 5,830 children who are in emergency accommodation right now. There's a lack of empathy.

"You are cold in terms of your response - handing public land over to private developers is what got us into this."

The Taoiseach rejected the assessment, labelling Mr Hearne "disingenuous and dishonest".

"I think it's very disingenuous and dishonest of you to say I'm cold or I'm not prioritising housing.

"You know damn well I am, and your ideology is what is getting in the way of faster delivery in terms of the progression of housing," he said.

Deputy Hearne had launched a scathing critique of the Government's housing record, saying its polices were failing by not treating the housing "catastrophe" as an emergency.

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