Independent TD for Donegal Thomas Pringle confronted Taoiseach Leo Varadkar over his Government’s record on housing policy in Ireland during his Leaders Questions time in the Dáil on Wednesday.
The debate came ahead of the #RaiseTheRoof Rally protest outside Leinster House organised by trade unions, student unions, activists and grassroots campaigns to draw awareness to the plight of a growing number of homeless people and families across the country.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Pringle said: “I stand in solidarity of all those protesting today outside Leinster House gates. I echo their call and the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing alongside 50 other housing experts for a radical change in the Government’s approach to housing.
“I believe my Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Bill which seeks to enshrine the right to housing in the Constitution would facilitate such a radical shift in Government policy, away from the private market and towards the rights of individuals to the basic fundamental need for adequate housing.
“Fine Gael’s love affair with the private market must end if we are to stop the rising tide of homelessness now experienced in every single county of Ireland including Donegal.
“My Bill would enshrine other associated rights to support the central right to housing and ensure that no matter who was in the Government at the time, these basic rights will be supported and defendable in the Irish courts.
Attending the rally after Leaders Questions Deputy Pringle met with a number of housing activists and joined them on the march to Leinster House gates.
“The strength of today’s protest is the show of solidarity to those made vulnerable by the current Government. We do not accept that homelessness is normal and demand that Fine Gael change their policy to reflect housing as a fundamental human right.
“I also hope to see support for my Bill as it progresses through the Dáil and which I believe reflects what the protest is all about today.”
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