Pearse Doherty, the financial representative for the Sinn Féin, has faced criticism in the Dáil from both the Tánaiste and the Ceann Comhairle. They described him as a tricky, two-faced character, and the head designer of disruptive tactics like interruptions and heckling. These clashes occurred during the leaders’ question session as Doherty highlighted recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) reports showing a surge in housing price inflation, with an annual increase of 7.3%.
Doherty exposed the unkept promise made by Micheál Martin and his party, Fianna Fáil, prior to the recent general election. They had pledged to offer 50,000 homes priced below €250,000, but according to Doherty, such properties were non-existent. He highlighted the price hike of a house in Martin’s Cork South-Central constituency, Carrigaline, where the price had jumped by €100,000 to €400,000 since the government assumed office in 2020.
However, the Tánaiste defended Fianna Fáil by showcasing its historical role in constructing houses over the decades. He announced that construction for 30,000 homes had begun in the initial four months of 2024, a notable increase from the previous year. 18,000 of these homes were kick-started in April alone, a colossal 600% rise from the preceding year.
Saying “There is momentum,” Mr Martin reported about 53,000 homes that had been started in the past year. He revealed the Government’s intention to build sustainability by leveraging the Future Ireland Fund, a sovereign wealth fund intended for future investments. However, he claimed Doherty’s party had rejected the proposal in Wednesday’s Dáil session, despite Doherty informing Davy Stockbrokers that his party would back the initiative. The Tánaiste compared Doherty to the central character of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, implying his two-facedness.
The original speaker compared the individual’s dual-character behaviour to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, accusing them of presenting differently to Davy Stockbrokers compared to their actions in the Dáil. He expressed concern over the pace of the growth in housing prices and stated that though it has somewhat slowed, he feels the rate is still too high and the issue lies in the lack of supply.
In response, Mr Doherty declared that the Tánaiste needs to acknowledge the accelerating housing crisis, overshadowing the fact that prices are on a monthly rise. He drew attention to the puzzling rumours of houses available for less than €250,000 and questioned their existence, adamant that these affordable properties weren’t in Cork, Donegal, or Dublin. He accused the Tánaiste of failing to provide such properties, contending that his policies were jeopardising the prospects of home ownership for a whole generation.
However, Mr Martin retorted that the number of mortgage drawdowns had peaked in 2023 at 26,000, the highest yearly figure since 2007. The Tánaiste quipped that while most individuals prefer harmony, with Deputy Doherty it was continuous dissonance.
Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail cautioned Mr Doherty as he persistently sought answers, warning that he would adjourn the House. He commented that the level of excitement and factors influencing fate had been heightened due to the electoral period and that this is a common occurrence on varying fronts. He chastised Mr Doherty for his disruptive interruptions, branding it an inappropriate way to carry out a well-ordered debate, and accused him of constant, calculated heckling.