Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, Deputy Ó Broin, for bringing this Bill to the Dáil. The Minister must now realise that this is at least the fourth motion or Bill in the last month related to the eviction ban and extending it. Is he not listening? Four times in the space of one month the Opposition has pleaded with the Government to extend the eviction ban and four times the Minister failed to do it. It is ridiculous. If not to us, I ask the Minister to please listen to his conscience and extend the eviction ban until January 2024. When the eviction ban lapses on 31 March, there will be a steady flow of families in south Kildare who will be made homeless through no fault of their own. They are people just trying to get by and live their lives as best they can. As Government TDs know, emergency homeless accommodation is beyond breaking point all over the country already. Where are the families supposed to go? At some point, the Minister may have to answer that question. Everybody who has asked him in the last month has gotten no answer and he has declined to answer at every opportunity. Many will have no choice but to return to their parents' houses, couch surf or become rough sleepers. Imagine telling an old-age pensioner he or she has to become a rough sleeper. They are the backbone of our country. The Minister is an absolute disgrace. I urge him and his colleagues to support Sinn Féin's Bill and use emergency planning and procurement powers to target vacant properties, which are dotted all over County Kildare. Everywhere I go, there is dereliction. I urge the Minister to heed Sinn Féin's call to start the biggest social and affordable housing programme in the history of the State so that folks can access affordable housing to buy or rent. I urge the Government and its backbenchers to take the last chance to do the right thing, do the right thing for people who voted for the Government and keep families in their homes. Perhaps the Independent Deputy in south Kildare, Deputy Berry, and Deputy Heydon, might like to also do the right thing because people voted them in to do the right thing. They have their chance now.

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