Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their attendance. This is a major issue. In my maiden speech after I was first elected to Cork City Council in 2009, I spoke on the homelessness and housing crisis. I was actually challenged on that and told that there was no crisis but anyone who was on the ground could see it. Here we are 11 years later in the midst of the worst housing crisis in the history of the State. It is why we support a referendum. My colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, has been a fierce advocate and has led the charge on housing and homelessness.

I wish to ask a few questions. For the people we represent, the housing crisis does not just affect people who are sleeping on the streets or in shelters or emergency accommodation. There can be three generations of the same family in one house. People are sleeping on couches. There are families who have broken up, with the mother and kids in one house and the father on his own or with some of the kids in his parents' house. It is a tragedy that needs to be resolved, which is why this referendum is key. I understand that it will not solve the housing crisis by itself but it will be a tool to help us down the road of putting policies in place whereby we can tackle the crisis in a constructive way.

Due to the Dáil's extension of the eviction ban the week before last, people who had been facing eviction can now stay on into the new year. However, we will still face the issue of notices to quit and evictions in January and February. This major issue needs to be addressed.

Whose job do the witnesses believe it is to define social and affordable housing? The programme for Government states there will be a referendum on housing. Have the witnesses met the Minister to discuss what he considers to be in the programme for Government? Is it a referendum on housing or a referendum on the right to housing? Is it a referendum on housing as a human right? Have the witnesses asked the Minister these questions?

A question was asked about how far the Government wanted to go. We need to move on a referendum as quickly as possible. We want to support the witnesses. I have met them already on this matter. I listened with great interest about the wording and how the witnesses were trying to bring everyone together and progress this. I want to be constructive and we want complete cross-party support in that regard. I would like to hear the witnesses' thoughts on my questions.