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

I do not think the Minister believes there is a housing emergency in this State, because if he did he would take different actions. He seems to be oblivious to it. He does not get it fully because having young mothers with kids living in a single hotel room for years is a national scandal. Pensioners having no choice but to live in a car is equivalent to elder abuse. Not being able to cook or wash clothes in the bed and breakfast to which one has been sent to live is a disgrace. Having to sleep in tents along the Grand Canal in Dublin and elsewhere is desperation. Living in a dilapidated mobile home in the back garden of an already overcrowded two-bedroom house is appalling. Allowing greedy landlords, banks and vulture funds to profiteer in an emergency is treacherous as it the profiteering itself. Having no right to a home in a supposed republic is perverse. The Minister should take the first step and declare the national emergency.

Tá géarchéim againn. Nuair atá éigeandáil ann ba chóir go dtógfaí na cinntí chun an pobal a chosaint. Is gá é sin a dhéanamh anois. Ní fheicim an chéim sin tógtha go dtí seo. Níl na cinntí sin ann maidir le tithíocht ná maidir leo siúd atá gan dídean in aon chor. Tá beathaí i mbaol. Tá saolta páistí agus saolta aostach á scrios toisc nach bhfuil an Rialtas seo dáiríre faoi na céimeanna is gá a thógáil chun déileáil leis an ngéarchéim seo. If the Minister was serious at all he would declare the national emergency and take the steps required in a national emergency to ensure delivery of the solutions that are there, which have been put forward and which can be delivered on.

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