Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Neasa Hourigan said that Green Party values were not represented when the coalition leaders agreed to lift the eviction ban. Were Fianna Fáil values represented in the room when the coalition leaders took that decision? This may seem like a redundant question given that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is a member of Fianna Fáil, but I believe that people, including the Tánaiste's own supporters, would like to know. How is that Fianna Fáil, which is rightly proud of its previous record on housing generations between the 1930s and the 1970s, is now endorsing homelessness not housing? The party's own Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has been clear that homelessness will increase as result of this decision. There is no debate about that. We know the consequences will be desperate, especially for children who suffer long-lasting damage when they become trapped in insecure and unsuitable emergency accommodation. This is why it is important to remember that what the Government is doing is a choice. The Government is not being forced to do this and there are other options.

I have listened with an increasing sense of disgust and utter disbelief to the attempts to justify this shameful decision. Who does the Tánaiste think he is kidding? The half-baked plan that the Government has announced, and which the Tánaiste claims will support tenants and landlords, will not be in place for many months, and that is an optimistic appraisal. For one, we are told that landlords will be compelled to give their tenants first refusal when they sell, yet nobody in government can tell us when that legislation will be enacted or even drafted. Second, we are told that approved housing bodies will be able to craft bespoke, cost-rental agreements for tenants at risk of homelessness. Again, nobody knows when this will be up and running.

It is also unclear why, if the Government wanted to introduce these supports, they are not ready to go. What was the Government doing for the duration of the eviction ban? Why were the draft outlines of these supports only cobbled together at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday? The lack of respect for those people about to become homeless is truly astounding. The Government has clearly done zero planning for this and it is making it up as they go along.

Thousands of people, including extremely vulnerable children, are going to be made homeless in three short weeks. They do not know where they are going to go, and neither does the Government.

I have just two questions for the Tánaiste. Were Fianna Fáil values represented in the room when it was decided to end the eviction ban? Is the Tánaiste aware of any other housing Minister in the history of the State who has openly admitted to deliberately opting to making people homeless?

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