Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)

On a point of order, the Government did not allow a motion to be passed to be further discussed. That is not what happens. The Minister knows that. That might happen with a Bill but the motion was passed. The position of the House, with the Minister’s agreement, is these awful reactionary policies that were proposed.

The Simon Community is in the Dáil today to highlight the devastation the Government’s housing policy is inflicting on thousands of families. Over 16,000 live in emergency accommodation, including over 5,000 children, yet there is no mention of children in Housing for All and no sign of any new housing plan. There are strategies for ending homelessness or target dates for having no children growing up in homelessness. Instead, there are piecemeal policies that will make the housing crisis even worse. Slashing funding for the tenant in situ scheme, gutting the rent pressure zones – no wonder three in five young people are thinking of emigrating. Can the Minister offer them any hope that things will get better under this Government?

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