"Following the publication of the Book of Estimates, there has been an attempt to focus debate on the single issue of the loss of the first time buyers grant. This is clearly an attempt to distract attention from the wider range of punitive cutbacks in key areas and is quite cynical on behalf of some Fianna Fáil politicians. They must not be permitted to set the agenda on this issue as they are attempting to do."

"The loss of the first time buyers grant will certainly hurt many. But if we are going to debate the issue of affordable housing then we must open this issue much wider and examine all of its aspects.

"Why do we have multi-millionaires at one end of the property market competing for prestige properties, while at the other end, people on an average income are crippled with huge mortgages, or priced out of the market entirely and waiting on ever growing, local authority housing lists?

"If we are going to debate this issue then lets bring some honesty to it and examine it in its entirety. The housing issue is one of the most clearly visible examples of gross inequalities in our society.

"Once again the most marginalised in our community will suffer most from these announced cutbacks. Cutbacks in Health, in Education, in the Community Employment Schemes, in funding to the IDA and County Enterprise Boards, in the Social and Family Affairs budget, will all hurt those who failed entirely to benefit from the Celtic Tiger era.

"Despite a decade of unprecedented prosperity, this government has failed to offer any degree of protection to the most vulnerable in our society and for that they should be ashamed.

"Fianna Fáil must no longer be allowed to hide behind the politics of illusion and misrepresentation.We must continue to challenge and expose those who say that there is not enough money to provide an adequate health service but have had no problem creating countless tax loopholes and avoidance schemes for their rich friends."