Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I want to point out that the Dublin Region Homeless Executive sent a circular to councillors in the last week to offer reassurance to HAP, rental accommodation scheme, RAS and other tenants who may be affected by notices of termination. The reassurance they give is that they refer the tenant to Threshold. A HAP tenant can look for alternative accommodation on the rental market. They will assess their social housing needs as a matter of course.

Dublin City Council is employing a considerable degree of flexibility in respect of tenant in situpurchases. I would not be reassured if I had a notice of eviction. I know the woman who issued the circular. She is a fine representative for the interests of housing, but I have no doubt her hands are tied behind her back.

We need a continuation of the no-fault eviction ban. Despite what all of those on the Government side have said, we need to establish a public building company that will build houses at the scale needed. We need to introduce a use it or lose it scheme, increase Part V developments and expand the tenant in situtargets. I ask the Taoiseach not to tell me that the Opposition has failed to come up with Bills, ideas or proposals to try to help resolve this crisis. We are blue in the face putting forward motions and Bills and being voted down. The protest on Saturday, 1 April, will be held here on Kildare St. and is important for anybody who wants to see real change in this country. We saw earlier the charade of Independents and others backing a failed Government. The only answer is people power and feet on the streets.

See this speech in context