Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will keep it in mind. Last night the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government survived a motion of no confidence as a result of the cowardice of Fianna Fáil. Despite that, the issue of demanding political accountability for housing and homelessness is not going away. We need a huge change of direction and policy that delivers secure, affordable housing for all our citizens. In the coming weeks, we will have a referendum on the issue of blasphemy. I am sure it is a very worthy issue but it is not the most pressing one we face. A more productive course of action would be to hold a referendum on the right to housing. That would give effect to the decision by 80% of the participants in the Constitutional Convention that such a right ought to be enshrined in the Constitution. It is not a novel idea. In fact, over 80 countries across the world already have the right to a home enshrined in their basic law and their Constitution. The Government could and should provide for the holding of a referendum to enshrine a citizen's right to a home and the right to housing in the Constitution and the Government should do it without delay. It could be done on the occasion of the local and European elections in May if not before that. Will the Taoiseach take that course of action? We heard - and I agree with the Taoiseach - that empathy on this issue is not the sole preserve of any party in this House or any individual. Let us have demonstrable evidence of the Government's empathy, understanding and compassion and let us have this referendum.

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