Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)

I bring the House's attention to this evening's Raise the Roof housing protest that will happen outside Leinster House at 6 p.m. I hope all of us who recognise this Government's failure on housing will attend and show their solidarity with renters, tenants and residents from throughout the country.

People throughout Dublin and the country are living in completely unacceptable housing with unaffordable rents and inadequate conditions. Flat complexes in the south-east inner city, including Markievicz House, Pearse House, Glovers Court and Rathmines Avenue, are all in urgent need of regeneration and investment. Residents have been crying out for support for years, with their flats nearly collapsing around them, and they have received nothing from the council or the Government. Likewise, renters across the city are being forced to pick up the tab for the Government's failure to deliver enough social and affordable homes. Last week, I met residents of Pearse House and a group of other residents of flats across the inner city and they said that the lack of hope for regeneration and the setbacks to the regeneration of flat complexes are turning their flats into coffins. They feel with their mental health that they will die in these flats that are in an absolutely horrendous condition. There needs to be an investment and ramping up of the regeneration process for residents living in flat complexes right across the city of Dublin and throughout the country.

The proposals being pushed through the Oireachtas by the Government this week are another example of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael bending to the will of developers and that they will do nothing to help the ordinary people of this city who need secure homes.

Also, last week I raised the issue of Nicola Fox who is an Irish woman in jail in England. The family contacted me and they are really concerned that Nicola has not been given her medication for the past three weeks. It is very important the Minister for foreign affairs, Deputy Harris, contact the authorities to ensure she at least receives her medication. It is really important to her and her family.