Rory Hearne
Dublin North-West · Social Democrats · Ireland
“I thank you, a Leas Cheann-Comhairle, for your work and support during the year and thank all the staff here. I wish my colleagues in government the best of luck over the summer and respite from our robust engagement. We look forward to going at it again in the autumn.”
“The Dublin public will be very upset when they realise their fire fighters and emergency response service are at risk of being split and downgraded.”
“I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this motion. It is important to have a discussion about the context of education costs and back-to-school costs. Of course, the context is massive inequality in this country.”
“However, what it is actually doing is throwing families into even more stress on top of not being able to pay the basic bills. In my constituency to respond and support families struggling with back-to-school costs, the Finglas voluntary food and family support service, Feed Our Homeless, last year organised help for families with a pop-u…”
“A second tier of child benefit would lift 55,000 children out of poverty but the Government will not do it. It costs the same as what it has given in tax breaks to developers, investor funds and large fast-food giants. Childhoods pass quickly. No child should have their future limited by poverty.”
“The Government is ramming through planning legislation this week that will exempt sheds out the back without proper scrutiny. It is satisfied with handing our young people to vulture landlords. The Government is now offering a future of renting a shed out the back with no rights whatsoever.”
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“Therefore, it is clear that the Government is introducing a significant change to access to emergency accommodation in the middle of the worst homelessness crisis in this State. It is moving to remove access to homeless accommodation. Why is it doing that? It is doing it because it wants to reduce homelessness numbers to try to take the political heat out of the issue. Even worse is the alternative, which is that the Government is pandering to a rising anti-immigrant sentiment. I have serious political concerns that that is what this Bill is about.”
“Is he otherwise engaged? I would have thought, given the significance of this legislation, which makes the biggest change to homeless legislation since the enactment of the 1988 legislation, that the Minister for housing would be here to explain why he is introducing these changes, completely separate from what had gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. My deep concern is that the changes around emergency accommodation are a knee-jerk reaction to try to somehow massage the figures for emergency accommodation. If that is not the case, why introduce it? If it is going to make no material change to the numbers, why is it being introduced? It is, of course, going to have an impact. Otherwise, the Government would not be introducing it.”
“The Minister of State is probably well aware of the significant concerns of a number of rights-based organisations working directly on housing on the front line, including the statutory body, IHREC, and others. I will outline what they have highlighted as some of the significant concerns about this Bill. I was not a Deputy during the previous Dáil term when this legislation went to the housing committee. I am looking at it from the perspective of someone who is coming new to these particular proposals. Stepping back and looking at it, I have serious questions. I asked the officials at the briefing what was the rationale for the introduction of these measures now. I would also ask what the rush is. We should give it the time it needs because there are serious concerns about it. Is there a reason the Minister for housing is not here?”
“We are at a stage when the fundamental precepts and structures of international law are under quite severe assault. For the Government to pass legislation that it does not believe to be fully compliant with its obligations would be deeply regrettable. Why is the Government trying to have passed a Bill that does not fulfil our obligations under the international Court of Justice ruling in relation to genocide? This Bill should not be passed as it is and should include services.”
“[you are proposing], and no international law justification for legislating for less than full compliance by Ireland with an international obligation articulated by the ICJ. That could not be clearer. The Government is effectively saying to the international law that it is not going to oblige by it. She went on to say: The flipside is that, if Ireland were to pass selective or restrictive legislation that did not fully comply with its obligations [which this is], that could have a very negative impact. It could be used by other states to say "this much but no more". It is not overstating the case to say that doing so could be extraordinarily harmful not only to the international legal order but to the very people and the very rights Ireland would be purporting to protect through this legislation ...”
“The apartment offers a locally authentic resting spot and a clear view of the desert where no one has set foot, which is of course completely untrue with regard to Palestinians. The advertisement also describes a "wide and beautifully decorated" house in another area where you can "forget all your worries here". This is what Ireland is facilitating via Airbnb and data centres in this country. We are facilitating that. The commercialisation, commodification and exploitation of illegal settler land is being facilitating by removing services from this Bill. To quote directly from a human rights barrister who is lauded by the Government in terms of her work on the ICG case: There is no basis in international law for differentiating between trade in goods and trade in services in the manner ...”
“The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented settler attacks that forcibly displaced families from the wilderness around Tuqu’. One family of three brothers, their wives and eight children were displaced five times between October 2023 and late 2024. The report goes on. I went on to the Airbnb the site today and I looked up information on renting an Airbnb in Palestine. What came up but Tekoa, that very place. A number of properties are on Airbnb to rent on land that is illegally occupied and where the UN has found people have been displaced. One guest suite in Tekoa is advertised as a fully furnished luxury apartment isolated in the village. It is described as a 15-minute drive from Jerusalem.”
“According to Palestinian residents in the Tuqu’ wilderness, settlers from the nearby outposts and settlements co-ordinate surveillance, harassment and attacks to force Palestinians from the area. This report is from September just gone. This settlement expansion and displacement of Palestinian herders was accompanied by the construction of military outposts, settler patrolled roads and a metal gate to restrict Palestinian access, indicating a degree of co-ordination between settlers and the state. Infrastructure projects include electricity lines, internal roads connecting the Tekoa settlement to the surrounding outposts, and earth mounds erected to block key routes, isolating Palestinian communities and restricting movement.”
“We know Ireland's legal obligations under that ruling in terms of settler violence and illegal settlements in the West Bank. I will talk about one specific case which will highlight the reality and take this discussion down to a human level when we talk about excluding services. It is the issue of Airbnb letting properties in the West Bank. I have done some research on this. There is a particular Israeli settlement called Tekoa near Tuqu’. In September last year, the Secretary General of the United Nations outlined how this particular settlement has expanded, removed Palestinians from their land and occupied it. In his report, the Secretary General found that Tekoa is one of the largest single land expansions from a single settlement to date.”
“I thank Deputy Gibney for outlining very clearly why services need to be included in this Bill. I will further develop that case because the Government is making a fundamental mistake in not including services. I will outline some of the international law, practice and findings in relation to the West Bank and what is going on. It is deeply disappointing that the Government has decided to exclude services from the Bill. This effectively significantly reduces the impact of the changes. The argument that Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh has made is that this is going to be more negative than if it had not been done at all. I will outline why that is the case. I will also outline the reality of what trade in services means right now and what is happening. We know what the ICJ has found.”
“Canice's school has just completed the modular build for additional classroom, but parents are still waiting to hear if they will actually have places in September. Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, if he can follow up on these cases please?”
“I raise ongoing issues in my constituency of access to appropriate school places for children with additional needs. A parent was in touch with me about her child, Roman Slater. She is really worried. He is five years of age. He is currently in his third year of ageing out in pre-school. He has no placement and no July provision. He is on the list for schools locally, including St. Brigid's Infant National School and Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, but he has not yet been placed in a school, St. Canice's, where classrooms are being developed currently. His parents feel that they have not got the help needed from the special educational needs organiser, SENO. They are still waiting for a final report and assessment of need that has not been received. They are worried about where he will have a school place in September. On that, St.”
“The FAI must take the brave step and refuse to play against this genocidal regime, just as the Polish, Swedish and Czechs did before, and this Government must back them. It must reassure the FAI of its and our full support, financial, political and whatever else. Do not put this on the players. Football bodies take a stand on political issues all the time. They take stands against racism and against advertising alcohol, gambling and smoking. FIFA celebrates inclusivity and pride. These are all intensely political decisions. This decision is no different. Stop the game. Not here, not anymore.”
“Those countries took that decision because, as it was put in a statement released by the Polish players and the Polish FA at the time, there are more important things in life than football. This is a question of principles. Why is Russia's horrific and illegal war in Ukraine different from the genocide, the ethnic cleansing and the apartheid that Israel has inflicted on the Palestinian people? Israel should not be participating in sporting fixtures while it continues to bombard Gaza and Lebanon, expand settlements in the West Bank illegally and carry out its policies of apartheid. Hundreds of Palestinian footballers are among the victims of the genocide, including Suleiman al-Obeid, the "Palestinian Pelé", who was killed while he was waiting for humanitarian aid.”
“On 24 February 2022, the same day that Putin launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia's World Cup qualifier play-off opponents, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, all announced they would refuse to play their matches on Russian soil. Three days later, those three countries announced they were all boycotting the fixtures in their entirety. These decisions were taken without the approval of FIFA. There was no hand-wringing about points deductions, world rankings or finances. They simply made the right decision. After these countries took this action themselves, FIFA then announced that Russia would be suspended indefinitely from international competitions and UEFA announced that Russian clubs would similarly be suspended.”
“The Government can support the FAI. It can support the consequences. The Minister of State can say, "Ireland takes leadership. We will take a stand. That is the right thing to do."”
“I will finish with words from a doctor who writes about his experience in Gaza. It is horrific. He says that what is going on, right now, is hell, hell in one of its most severe forms, and that children have lost their childhoods. He said that a Gazan life, before all of this, was worth everything. Now, he says, it feels as if it is worth nothing. The Minister of State spoke about all the things the Irish Government is doing for Palestine. This is something. It is an act that is within the Government's power. The Minister of State talked about the EU-Israel free trade agreement not being within the Government's power; it is other governments. The Government can do this. If the Minister of State wants, he can stand up today and say, "The Irish Government believes this game should not go ahead". Why will the Minister of State not do that?”
“Ireland could start a global movement of countries refusing to be complicit with the dystopian terror that Netanyahu is inflicting on Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Stopping the game would give hope that there still remains a universal value called, "Our common humanity". Ireland could be a candle in the dark for Gaza. We did it before in 1979, when the Irish Government banned the South African rugby team due to apartheid. Why will this Government not show the bravery that government showed then? There is a rising tide of anger on this. The Government is on the wrong side of history. It is going against the Irish people. The movement will grow until this game is stopped. Stop an cluiche. Déan an rud ceart. Seas suas do Gaza. Caithfidh Éire dóchas a thabhairt don Phalaistín. The game must be stopped. We can and must do it again.”
“Ireland cannot normalise and legitimise a genocidal regime that continues to bomb children in tents and shelters. The Taoiseach and the Minister talk weasel words about insisting the game must go ahead and talk about losing league standing and losing points. Why must the game go ahead? Israel is committing a genocide. Does the scale and depth of the barbarity and terror in that word - what Israel is doing - mean nothing any more? Surely it is our duty and our role, given how Ireland was colonised and brutalised in the past, that of all people we should be the first European country to take a principled stand and refuse to play Israel, not to mention our legal obligation to prevent genocide and war crimes.”
“I also thank Deputy Gibney for her work in bringing forward this motion and the excellent work done in recent days highlighting what this Government should be doing. It is deeply disappointing to see this amendment moved and the Government should reconsider that seriously. When we talk of sport and football, I will start by reading the words of 13-year-old Saif, who suffered a life-changing injury when he and his uncle were shelled by an Israeli tank. He said that he used to walk but everything he does now is in the chair. He also said that he used to play football with his friends and what he liked most was playing ball down at the sea. Saif cannot play football any more. He will never play football. It was his dream to play for Palestine. The game between Ireland and Israel cannot go ahead, not here, not anywhere.”
“In particular, it will have a negative impact on the quality of life of older residents, those with mobility challenges and families seeking to remain connected to local services. We are asking if An Post has undertaken an assessment of such accessibility and mobility impacts of the change in services. We are not aware of that. We would like to see these assessments done. We are also asking if ComReg has been addressed about this. On the issue of the material disposal of land, has the Department consented to An Post for the disposal of this according to section 8.22 of the code of practice?”
“I again express the deep concern we have for our constituents in Glasnevin and Drumcondra. This service delivery office has been an important local service for the community, and this is happening in the context of the removal of a number of local services like local transport infrastructure, bus changes, the closure of Whitehall Garda station, the loss of parking, restriction on transport and ongoing disruptions. This area also has an older demographic. Residents are deeply concerned that changes being made to essential services like this are being made without any consideration of the combined impact on residents who depend on accessible local infrastructure and services.”
“We want to raise an issue of deep concern to the community around Griffith Avenue, Glasnevin, in relation to a proposal – which seems to be going ahead – to sell the An Post depot on Griffith Avenue. This has been publicly advertised for sale. Will the Minister of State set out what is planned on this? We have a number of issues of concern to the residents. They really want to stop this happening.”
“Tairgim leasú Uimh. 13: Ar leathanach 13, idir líne 3 agus líne 4, an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach: “ “(7A) Ceadófar don Údarás tithe folmha agus tréigthe a cheannach go héigeantach sa Ghaeltacht ar mhaithe lena n-úsáid chun tithíocht inacmhainne a sholáthar.”.”
“Tairgim leasú Uimh. 12: Ar leathanach 13, idir líne 3 agus líne 4, an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach: “ “(7A) Tabharfaidh an tÚdarás tosaíocht do thithe inacmhainne a sheachadadh é féin sa Ghaeltacht.”.”
“Tairgim leasú Uimh. 11: Ar leathanach 13, idir líne 3 agus líne 4, an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach: " "(7A) Féadfaidh an tÚdarás talamh a cheannach, tithíocht a fhorbairt agus láithreáin sheirbhísithe a dhíol chun tithíocht a sholáthar sa Ghaeltacht.".”
“It seems to me that there is a conservatism here, a reluctance to actually allow an t-údarás to do what it could be doing, which would actually offer the Gaeltachtaí a future in terms of developing housing themselves and having that power. The Gaeltacht Act 2012 states that Údarás na Gaeltachta may implement initiatives in the Gaeltacht. I will come back on that.”
“We put forward this proposal in our housing plan for the Gaeltachtaí because, at the moment, it is clearly not working and I do not see how the way forward that has been set out can work. As we said, an t-údarás has a huge amount of land and development skills. The Minister talked about skills. The question is why it cannot develop further skills. It has skills in development and can develop further skills in housing. If we are really visionary, why could it not, for example, be developing modular home factories and developing skills in the areas that would give people employment and build housing? Why do we have to limit what it can do when people are looking for this?”
“I want to come back in on this. Fianna Fáil has had a history of developing housing in a very progressive way in the past. This is a time for new initiatives, a time for vision and a time for radical action on the housing crisis, nowhere more so than in the Gaeltachtaí. It is absolutely central that we listen to the organisations on the ground. Tá na heagraíochtaí Conradh na Gaeilge, Tinteán agus BÁNÚ ag lorg an róil sin don údarás. Tá ról láidir á lorg acu a thabharfadh cumhacht tithíochta don údarás. These organisations, Conradh na Gaeilge, BÁNÚ and Tinteán, are looking for Údarás na Gaeltachta to have this role to actually deliver housing. I am in complete agreement with them.”
“Tá talamh ag an údarás sa Rinn i gContae Port Láirge, i nGaoth Dobhair agus i Ráth Chairn a bhféadfaí a fhorbairt le cainteoirí Gaeilge a choinneáil sna pobail Ghaeltachta dá mbeadh an tAire agus an Roinn sásta cead agus maoiniú a thabhairt le rannóg tithíochta a bhunú le go bhféadfadh an t-údarás daoine a fhostú leis an obair a dhéanamh chun pleananna a réiteach, cead pleanála a fháil agus úsáid a bhaint as na scéimeanna atá ag an Roinn tithíochta le tithíocht a sholáthar do chainteoirí Gaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge in úsáid i measc an phobail. In this amendment we are calling on the Minister to give permission to Údarás na Gaeltachta to develop housing and to have a direct role so that people in the Gaeltacht can have a guaranteed delivery of housing.”
“There seems to be a reason - I do not understand it - that the Department appears to be reluctant to give these powers to Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is time to change that and it is time to give Údarás na Gaeltachta a direct role in delivering housing. Tá talamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta i mBaile na hAbhann, mar shampla, in aice leis an ionad cóireála séarachais, áit a bhféadfadh sé meascán de thithíocht shóisialta, tithíocht inacmhainne agus suíomhanna le seirbhísí a fhorbairt. Ba chóir don Aire acmhainní a chur ar fáil don údarás idir airgead caipitil agus airgead reatha.”
“Tá todhchaí na Gaeltachta mar phobal Gaeilge á cur i mbaol de bharr an intinn dhiúltach atá ag an Aire agus an Roinn maidir le ceisteanna tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Níl an tAire sásta úsaid a bhaint as an gcumhacht atá aige faoi mhír 9 d'Acht na dTithe (Gaeltacht) (Leasú), 2001. Tá an cuma ar an scéal nach bhfuil sé sásta ach an oiread ligean don údarás rannóg tithíochta a bhunú. The authority - Údarás na Gaeltachta - has land in the Gaeltacht, for example in Baile na hAbhann, close to the sewage treatment plant, which could provide a mixture of social and affordable housing and where serviced sites could be developed if the Minister gave sufficient resources and the authority to Údarás na Gaeltachta to develop this land.”
“Ceart go leor. Tá an ghéarchéim tithíochta sna Gaeltachtaí uafásach ar fad. It is time to give a direct role to Údarás na Gaeltachta to deliver affordable housing in the Gaeltacht areas. Táim ag tacú le Conradh na Gaeilge agus grúpaí pobail eile, ar nós Tintéan agus BÁNÚ, agus iad ag lorg cumhachtaí breise don údaras ionas go bhféadfadh sé talamh a cheannach ar mhaithe le tithíocht a sholáthar. It is very clear that the future of the Gaeltacht as an Irish-speaking community and the future of the language itself is in jeopardy as a result of the housing crisis, which is a housing disaster, in the Gaeltacht. What we want to see in proposing these amendments is a shift and a change to give Údarás na Gaeltachta a direct role.”
“There are clear, detailed policies, but this Government is showing an absolute reluctance to take our proposal seriously, because it does not want to change and does not want to acknowledge the depth of this crisis and of the Government's failure. Communities need real investment. We believe that rather than cutting the tax of investor funds, we need a tax that in respect of the super-wealthy in this country to allow us to end child poverty.”
“In the area of childcare, there are similarly huge subsidies for the private sector. Why are we not building up public housing and public childcare models? These things would permanently bring down the cost of living. That is the structural change that is needed. What is going on, as I said, is that there is still an issue with ideology and the belief that the market is the best way to deliver things. The Taoiseach gets up here and says that we have no substance in our proposals. That is spin. It is completely untrue and he knows it is untrue. We have set out detailed proposals, whether for a public childcare model, for a State construction company, and for solar for all.”
“The reality, as I have stated previously, is that this Government is cruel - it stands over the highest level of evictions since the Famine and the highest level of homelessness on record - but that it is also incompetent. There are record budget surpluses, yet people cannot get around our capital city. They cannot access health services or housing, the most basic of infrastructure. Why is that the case? It is because the State, rather than building up its own capacity, is outsourcing. We see this most clearly in the area of housing. Over €1 billion per year is going to for-profit providers of emergency accommodation and private landlords through the housing assistance payment, HAP. That is €1 billion every year that gives nothing by way of a permanent, public asset in return. Talk about poor value for money.”
“I thank Independent Ireland for tabling this motion. As my colleague said, we would not agree with all the proposals set out, but this is an important debate that needs to happen. When we look at what is going on right now across the country, we can see that people are really struggling. They are not just struggling financially; they are struggling to get around on public transport and they are struggling with the lack of basic infrastructure. This is the fundamental problem. Ireland is not working for people. It is not working for anyone. Our economic infrastructure and social infrastructure are completely inadequate. The Social Democrats have set out a different approach. It is a social democratic approach which puts the State central to delivering and guaranteeing the social and economic infrastructure so that our economy functions.”
“This service is neither suitable nor up to standard. We need action on this to ensure that people have quality public transport.”
“The NTA promised that service would be brought back but there is still no clear timeline for that. It is not acceptable. People rely on these buses. They plan their lives around them. There is a real disconnect between the Minister, the NTA and what people are experiencing on the ground in communities, whether it is children going to school, elderly people getting to hospital appointments or people getting into town. They cannot get around their communities or this city. Public transport is absolutely central to providing people with quality of life and access to the services they need. The F spine routes are still not operating to the extent that would make them adequate replacements for the old routes. As I said, people regularly get in touch with my office about cancellations, delays and ghost buses.”
“In my constituency, in particular, the replacements for routes such as the 9, 83 and 13 have not provided an improved bus service for many people. People's experience is that it is now harder to use buses and public transport as a result of the changes. People say they have had to go back to the car because the new routes do not go through their communities and do not bring them where they need to go. There is a fundamental problem here. I, along with residents from Glasnevin and Finglas and other Deputies, have protested at the NTA. I have organised public meetings on the issue. We gave a clear message to the NTA about the need for changes to address frequency, the issue of ghost buses and to replace service routes that were taken away, particularly the number 24 bus, which ran down Beneavin Road.”
“I am broadly in agreement with the Bill. The expansion of the NTA is not necessarily a bad thing. However, the NTA has serious issues. If you speak to residents of my constituency in Finglas and Glasnevin, you know there are significant issues. It is one of the biggest issues I have had to deal with since I was elected. Complaints come into my office about the NTA and bus services. There is a real issue with the lack of accountability and engagement. There is a real issue about the connection between the NTA and the Minister. There is also the issue of privatisation and outsourcing within the bus services. The broad issue is that our public transport infrastructure is not up to scratch. It is not delivering the services that people need.”
“-----to turn around and say he is just doing this for social media. That is very demeaning and disregards the people who have voted for me and us. I am doing this because it is what I know and see. The Minister has pointed to areas that are working and where something has been done. I can point to just as many areas and towns where policy is not working and there are still derelict buildings. Is he denying that there are derelict buildings in towns and villages across the country? Derelict houses and buildings are falling down. What the Government has done is not enough. It is factually correct that there are tens of thousands of derelict buildings, even above shops, that could be homes. The Government will point to where it is doing something, but it is not enough. That is my point.”
“I want to respond to the claim about social media clips. That is disingenuous. I do not know whether a memo went around Cabinet to try to suggest calling out the Social Democrats for just doing this for social media. It is very demeaning to an elected Member of the Dáil-----”
“Is fadhb an-mhór iad na tithe folmha agus tréigthe, agus na foirgnimh thréigthe freisin, i mbailte agus sráidbhailte ar fud na tíre. The State has failed, from Spiddal to Fermoy to Carrick-on-Suir and Loughrea. When driving around the country, I see so many derelict buildings. It is scandalous. It is such a shame for these towns, many of which I have visited. I visit relatives down the country and see this. Dereliction is still visible. The town centre first policy is clearly not working. The policies are not working to address this at the scale needed and to deal with the extent of it. It is just not enough. We still see massive levels of dereliction in villages and towns. This affects many commercial buildings. We in the Social Democrats believe that there needs to be things like compulsory sales orders.”
“Will an tAire outline the role the Department plays in tackling dereliction, vacancy and the underuse of buildings in rural towns and villages and the plans he has in that regard? In particular, will he outline the way in which the Department is co-ordinating with local authorities and Departments to ensure that funding is linked to housing, transport and community services? Is fadhb an-mhór ar fad í seo.”
“Where is she to go? Fianna Fáil has abandoned ordinary people. Why is the Government not putting in place a ban on evictions and freezing the rents?”
“I take note of the Ceann Comhairle's earlier comment, and I thank her. I am back to the rents. Who can afford these outrageous rents? Does the Taoiseach know how much of a nurse's take-home pay is needed to pay the average Dublin rent of €2,600 per month? It is every last cent of it. This is the most cruel and callous Government since the foundation of this State. The Government parties knew their new rental measures would cause even higher rents and evictions, but they did it anyway. We have the highest rate of evictions since the Famine. Has the Taoiseach no sense of shame about the human misery being caused right now across this country by the Government's policies? I met a woman in Cabra yesterday who broke down in tears. She has cancer. She is being evicted. She has a colostomy bag. She cannot go into emergency accommodation.”
“I absolutely stand over the comparison with the Famine. What the Minister is doing is refusing to acknowledge the trauma that is caused to every household that is evicted. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have stood over, year after year, evictions and homelessness rising. Deputy Browne is just another Minister who is standing over record homelessness and evictions. He said that I have no solutions. I set out my solution very clearly for him, namely a ban on no-fault evictions applying to existing tenants. The Minister is getting up in here and lying.”
“I said earlier that this Government is the cruellest since the foundation of the State. The Minister waffles on about homelessness prevention but he will not do the one thing that could actually prevent people being made homeless, which is to put in place a ban on evictions. He has become and will be known as the Minister for evictions. We have record evictions and record homelessness, and the Minister will not do the thing that he can do to prevent families and children being made homeless, which is to put in place a ban on evictions. Every month the figures come out, the Minister is in hiding and never has to answer. In here is the one time that he does have to answer, and it is a disgrace.”
“I heard the Taoiseach say again today, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins also said it, that while 7,000 households were evicted, new tenancies were created. There is no acknowledgement in those 7,000 evictions of the stress, the anxiety, the upset and the trauma those people and children are left with. I hope the Minister of State and his family never face eviction. I hope the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach never face it, but when do they ever have any sense of what it is to be forced out of their home and to lose it? It is one of the things that motivates me because I had to leave my home when I was a private renter as a child, and it has stayed with me for life. I will stand up for those people; they should not be evicted. The Government is a disgrace.”