Sinn Féin's Finance Spokesperson has called for a Dáil debate next week to examine the Housing Commission report which he described as a "damning indictment" of the Government's record on housing.
Quoting from the document, Pearse Doherty said the commision had identified "systemic failure" and "reactive policy making" which had undermined affordability.
He added: "You made rents go up and houses unaffordable."
It follows the head of the Housing Commission saying Ireland needs more cost rental housing and a "much longer-term view" is needed to solve the country's housing problems.
John O'Connor said the State should focus on ensuring that it takes ownership of social housing into the future.
Mr Doherty contended that the only way to change is guaranteed is with a change of Government.
He argued Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien was "running scared of an open debate" given the "stinging criticism" of the Government’s "failing" Housing for All plan.
In reply, Mr O'Brien said the chair of the Housing Commission, John O'Connor, called said the Government "should stick with it" adding that the "most important thing now is consistency".
Mr O’Brien claimed Sinn Féin would "do absolutely the opposite".
He called for Sinn Féin's Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin to publish his party's housing plan - something promised a year ago.
The Minister said 70% of the Housing Commission's recommendations are "either done or are being done".
'Unedifying'
Meanwhile, Labour leader Ivana Bacik described the exchange between Mr O'Brien and Mr Doherty as "unedifying", accusing them both of attempting to score political points.
She said it was not appropriate for such an exchange at a time of record homelessness and when many people were still living in their childhood bedrooms, unable to afford a home of their own.
Ms Bacik raised the findings of the Housing Commission, accusing the Government of a lack of ambition.
Mr O'Brien defended his housing policy, arguing that "targets alone won't build houses". He said that record levels of homes were being delivered.
'Radical strategic reset'
The Housing Commission was established as part of the Programme for Government to examine housing issues, such as supply.
It has called for a "radical strategic reset of housing policy" and has estimated an underlying housing deficit in Ireland of up to 256,000 homes.
Mr O'Connor said more cost rental housing is needed and that up to 20% of all housing stock should be cost rental or social housing.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, he said payments like HAP should only be used as a short to medium term measure.
"'We need to ensure that we're not continuing relying on more and more housing for the Housing Assistance Payment and keep increasing the amount of housing under that...The State needs to own the houses .... Let's own the properties and control the properties".
Mr O'Connor said some elements introduced by the Government to address the housing crisis have been very effective, including the affordable purchase and cost rental schemes.
He added that a "much longer-term view" is needed to solve Ireland's housing problems.
He said a lot of work was being done on the Housing For All plan and the commission's report was to build on that and to put things on a more stable footing into the future.
"We need to recognise the current issues that we face, one being that there is a housing deficit ... we need to address that and we need to recognise that we need to provide that housing.
"We need to improve the supply system where we have a focus on delivering housing and we need to see housing as a key priority for our society and from an economic point of view."
In its report, submitted to Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien earlier this month, the commission points to "ineffective decision making and reactive policy making where risk aversion dominates".
Additional reporting Tommy Meskill
