Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I sense many other policy discussions here tonight.

I understand we all come from different spaces but in this situation we need people to support this legislation for it to work. If Deputies try to insert amendments that might jeopardise the legislation, it might not work and might not give people the support we all want to give them to keep them in their homes and places of residence over the next three or four months. That is what we are trying to achieve. The Deputies want to have other policy discussions that go way beyond this. This is not the time for them. The Deputies are in danger of jeopardising the legislation we are trying to enact.

I will go through the issues raised. With regard to Traveller accommodation, we have had a conference call with relevant bodies and have worked with them very closely. A specific circular has been sent to all local authorities. There will be no evictions of Travellers from unauthorised sites during this period. The local authorities are very clear about that. This applies to existing unauthorised sites. I cannot condone new unauthorised sites; that is a different situation. There is no issue with regard to any existing sites as of today. Local authorities are fully on board with that. They have been issued an instruction in that regard. I cannot be any clearer than that. I hope that is enough for the Deputies.

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