Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's comments are derogatory and inaccurate and he has not moved on with developments. It was agreed with the Minister, Deputy Shatter, that there would be a technical assessment of the properties in the Curragh Camp. A limited technical assessment was done on Pearse Terrace. I would like to see the outcome of that, because, on the information which the Minister, Deputy Shatter, gave us, it is possible to renovate some of those dwellings for accommodation use, which in the current climate of a housing crisis is something that everybody should be concerned about.

The Minister said that he was looking at the circumstances of some residents on a case-by-case basis but then slandered everybody who lives there and tried to make out that none of them pays their bills. I put it to him that Department officials met residents on Friday and discussed the possibility of renovating O'Higgins Terrace. If he is saying that no one will be made homeless and that vulnerable people are there, what alternatives is he putting in place to deal with that? Is the O'Higgins Terrace proposition being considered? In the meantime, will he withdraw from legal proceedings and discuss this matter rationally with the families and individuals who served this State so loyally as members of the Defence Forces over the years?

See this speech in context