Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Obviously I support the motion because I have signed my name to it. The members of Government, and in particular the Fine Gael members, should be forewarned. Their refusal to change and to implement the policies in this Bill, which the dogs in the street know provide the solution to the housing and homeless crisis will no longer be tolerated. There was a fantastic turnout of young people in the demonstration outside the Dáil today. The demonstration was attended by more than 10,000 and possibly up to 12,000 people. While out at the protest, it struck me that the 10,000 people who were on the street equate to the number of people who are homeless. When I saw that number of people it had a visual impact in terms of the number of people who are living in hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation and hubs.

A new generation is moving into action and they will not accept the future the Minister is holding out for them, a future with limited rights, precarious work and precarious, unaffordable housing. They will not accept the dog-eat-dog world of neoliberal capitalism. These young people have already shown their ability to organise and achieve change. They were a key component of the campaign to achieve marriage equality and the right of women to control their bodies. They are now mobilising on another key issue facing our society.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions called this demonstration today. It was the first time in a long time I have heard people say that more action needs to be taken, leading up to strike action. If this Government does not build public housing on public lands and deal with the issues, that is what we will be facing in the near future.

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