Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, like others, watched the footage on "Prime Time Investigates" last week in disgust, in horror, and then in anger. I was aghast, and ashamed in many ways, that anybody would cram humans into a home like they were sheep on the way to market. How could this happen again? Most of the properties on that programme were in Dublin south central, an area which is crying out for housing. There was not one, but four separate fire traps, three of which were owned by the one slum landlord. How could slum landlordism be thriving again in this city? In plying their greedy trade, these evil landlords are reminiscent of a bygone era. They exist, however, because this State and the political establishment allow them to. They exist and are basically encouraged to exist by a State which prefers property rights to the common good.

One should remember it is only a fortnight ago that members of the two big parties in this House voted against declaring a national housing emergency. The scenes we saw last week are all part of that crisis. The crisis is not just about social housing supply. It is as much about an improperly regulated rental market as it is about homelessness, social and affordable housing and private rental accommodation.

One of the immediate actions the Minister can take having watched the RTÉ programme is ensuring there is proper funding for Dublin Fire Brigade to carry out the inspections that will allow for the immediate closure of those buildings where people's lives are at risk. Second, a message needs to go out from this House to the scum landlords, such as Andrew O'Neill, who was highlighted in the programme, that those people who are involved in this type of overcrowding will not get away with it or walk away. The Revenue Commissioners should immediately serve them with notices or a tax demand for their ill-gotten rents. Also, the Criminal Assets Bureau should be brought in to seize their assets.

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