Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Today, the consultation on the housing crisis will take place in the Mansion House. A few weeks ago the Committee on Housing and Homelessness submitted its report. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has informed us that in two weeks' time he will respond to the consultation process and the report. Is it anticipated by the Cabinet that there will be some type of legislation - perhaps in the form of declaring a housing emergency, which is how we refer to it because that is what it is - that will bring in radical measures to deal with the problem of housing and homelessness and lead to definite action instead of consistent promises and the failure to deliver and deal with what is an ever-increasing problem? We brought forward an item of legislation on NAMA to give it a new remit in terms of prioritising the building of social housing and providing both social and affordable housing and to use empty properties for social reasons rather than selling them to vulture funds. However, the Ceann Comhairle ruled it out of order. Those who try to legislate-----

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