Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 19 May 2016

Committee on Housing and Homelessness

Tiglin Challenge

10:30 am

Photo of Ruth CoppingerRuth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates to the committee and welcome the fact that anyone would do work among addicts and would help with regard to homelessness. However, I want to ask about Tiglin's ethos, because other Deputies asked if Tiglin was seeking to be a housing body. Obviously, Tiglin is also seeking a form of State subsidy. I, therefore, think it is legitimate to ask the following. I know Tiglin has a very strong Christian ethos and on its website it states that those in Tiglin believe literally in the Bible and that the Bible is the inspired and only infallible and authoritative written word of God. That is fine. I represent people of all religions and none, but I am wondering how that can impact on Tiglin's work with homeless people who may not be religious and alcohol or drug addicts who feel that a lot of the only therapeutic options are linked with a religious ethos in Ireland, and not just in Ireland, traditionally. Are there any non-religious alternatives? What proportion of those who go through Tiglin's programme become Christians? The graduation ceremony takes place in Nazarene Church in Greystones.

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