I thank Deputy Ó Broin for putting forward this motion and for all the work he does in this area. It at least gives people hope to know somebody listens, cares, is paying attention and has a solution. Time and again, we see Government policy making the housing crisis it has created even worse. We warned it that its legislation would result in a surge in evictions. We warned it would contribute to the rising numbers of homelessness. The Government did not listen. It pressed ahead and, as it does, did the bidding of big developers and those people who seem to have its ear. The people in my constituency have my ear. I understand the Minister of State's colleague turns a deaf ear to them. She has no office, does not do clinics and is not available. That is fine. It is her thing. Last week, I sat in my office with a woman who had a notice to quit in her hand. She was told by her landlord that she must be out in June. She received a letter from the council stating, "We cannot advise whether Fingal County Council will be in a position to accept tenant in situ applications in 2026 as funding is determined by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage". She sobbed her heart out as she asked me to put a very simple question to the Government: How many people have to become homeless before it recognises that there needs to be a change of course? How many people must find themselves sitting in their TD's office clutching a notice to quit and sobbing their heart out before the Government takes meaningful action? There are 17,500 people homeless, 5,500 of whom are children. Will the Government care when 6,000 children are homeless? Will reality penetrate when the number goes to 7,000? We have offered solutions this evening. The only thing that will help the woman who came to my office in the short term is a ban on evictions. I urge the Minister of State to think about the people, including the children, behind the statistics.

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Hear, hear.

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