Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate the message put forward by my colleagues in the House today and express my own outrage at the Government's persistent neglect of its citizens when it comes to what should be viewed as a basic, fundamental human right, namely, the right to housing.

I also reiterate what the UN special rapporteur, Leilani Farha, stated in her letter in The Irish Times, which was signed by 50 other housing rights experts.

The letter states that:

the current crisis is the manifestation of deep structural problems in housing policy and the philosophy that underpins it. Unless there is a radical change, we believe the crisis will simply deepen and worsen.

It calls for a rights-based approach to the housing situation and a referendum to enshrine the right to housing in the Constitution in order to change fundamentally and radically the Fine Gael policy which has led to nearly 10,000 people being homeless in Ireland today.

As the Taoiseach is aware, I recently introduced the Thirty-Seventh Amendment Of The Constitution (Economic, Social And Cultural Rights) Bill 2018 which seeks to enshrine rights to housing, healthcare and education and many other rights in our Constitution. It is the third time I have introduced the Bill which has twice been voted down by the Government and Fianna Fáil. It would support the concept of housing as a fundamental right alongside other rights which would facilitate healthy, sustainable life within the home, something every person in this country deserves. Enshrining the right to housing and associated economic, social and cultural rights would adequately and consistently defend the individual's right to housing rather than leaving him or her at the mercy of the ideological preferences of the Government of the day. The Bill would provide a mechanism to break down those structural problems by bringing about a human rights-based approach to service provision which would be defendable in the courts. As 83 constitutions in countries around the world include such provisions, it should be possible to pass such legislation in this State.

Fine Gael's reliance on the private market and refusal to intervene has led to private interests being prioritised over the needs of individuals in this State. If our Constitution was fully rights-proofed, we would not be in this situation whereby half a million people are currently deprived of adequate housing and many more will be in the years to come. Homelessness is not normal or a market correction. It results from a choice made by this Government which facilitates an unhealthy relationship with private market interests. Will the Taoiseach enact a human rights-based approach to the housing crisis? Will he support the call for the right to housing and associated economic, social and cultural rights to be enshrined in the Constitution?

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