We have never had a national debate on this, and nobody has asked the younger generation to sign up to this new way of living
There are other big questions, too. One of the most significant is the future role for private landlords, now leaving the sector in droves, due to a mix of higher regulation, difficulty in making a return, despite high rents and uncertainty caused by changes in policy. And, of course, decent property prices for sellers.
Seeing no support politically and with rent levels controlled and evictions impossible, the drift of private landlords away from the market has accelerated. The Government has failed to send them a consistent message - and they are unsure what a Sinn Féin government would bring. These are the impossible trade-offs caused by a chronic lack of rental supply, with obvious crossovers to the home ownership market. It led to the ending of the eviction ban, before plans appear to be in place to deal with the consequences.
Why? They've no interest in anything. Just handouts and inheritance.