Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from Home for Good and Professor O'Cinneide for being with us. As Senator Fitzpatrick said, it is timely to have this discussion now because the Housing Commission recently launched its public consultation process seeking the views of the public on this issue. It runs throughout the summer until 2 September and it is important that people engage with that process. I urge the witnesses to contact all stakeholders they deal with on a regular basis, as we all will do, to encourage them to have their say. The consultation process will build on the housing conference that was about a housing referendum, which was held in May. As Deputy Ó Broin said, a referendum on a right to housing is a commitment of the Government and is contained in the programme for Government. I am certain the referendum will happen. By the Housing Commission setting the wording of a referendum at such a high priority shows the Government's commitment to the cause and its determination to follow through on it.

I previously worked on the wording of the children's referendum. I know how challenging, frustratingly slow and lengthy is the process of getting constitutional wording correct. It needs to be legalistic, watertight and understandable, that is, something people can communicate about freely. It will spark a national debate and rightly so. It will shape democratic decisions around one of the most - if not the most - important publications we have; Bunreacht na hÉireann. We all know that housing affects everyone and we do cross-party work in this committee because we appreciate that. Housing affects those who own their home and those who do not, those who rent homes to others and those who have no home whatsoever. That is why we need to make sure we get this right.

Home for Good has presented the committee with a wording twice. What feedback, if any, did the group receive from the Attorney General, the Minister, the Housing Commission or both on the proposed wording? Professor O'Cinneide outlined some concerns about this. I also have a concern, which others have raised, in that people may see this as some sort of a silver bullet that will solve the housing crisis overnight. We know it will not. What will solve the housing crisis is getting the balance between supply and demand right and, when that is done, making sure there is affordability in the market for everyone. Housing for All is setting us on the path to achieve this.

Professor O'Cinneide said that by not having this reference, it would leave a void in the Constitution, which is interesting. I agree with him that having such a reference in the Constitution would provide a focus for political change and legislative reform, as well as being a symbolic statement. What would this right mean to people, landlords, homeowners, renters and those who are homeless on a practical level? How should we communicate this to people so that they fully understand it? Mr. Stanley may wish to contribute to this. I know he said earlier that he had practical examples, which I would love to hear, because they will help to shape the debate and make sure the right messages are out there and that the right result is had by this referendum. Ms Kelly might start with the wording of the referendum.