Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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328. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason Ireland has not committed in full to article 31 of the European Social Charter; the steps he is taking to ensure that full commitment is given to the article; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17151/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I note that the Deputy raised this matter recently during a debate in the Dáil.

Ireland ratified the Revised European Social Charter on 4 November 2000. At that time, Ireland accepted 92 of the 98 paragraphs of the Revised Charter. Three of those paragraphs not accepted by Ireland make up Article 31, which relates to the right to housing.

The issue of the right to housing was debated in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann in September 2017. Arising from this, a motion to refer the Eighth Report of the Convention on the Constitution, which dealt with economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to housing, to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach was passed by the Dáil on 28 September 2017 and by the Seanad on 11 October 2017. The Oireachtas Committee engagement did not take place before the dissolution of the Committee.

The commitments in relation to Constitutional reform in the Programme for Government provide for the holding of a referendum on housing. The matter of ratifying Article 31 of the Revised European Social Charter may fall to be considered further in light of the outcome of that referendum.