Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I expressed my support for the general thrust of these amendments on Committee Stage. There is no doubt that there is a major issue here, particularly for women who experience domestic violence and who are disqualified from access to social housing because they may already be the joint owner of a property, although this may be in substantial negative equity. The Minister of State's predecessor, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, indicated that she was willing to consider the situation of persons experiencing domestic violence. I request that the new Minister of State follow up on that commitment, because this is an extremely serious issue and many women find themselves with no option other than to spend time in emergency shelter accommodation, which, in many instances, is by no manner of means desirable.