Paul Murphy presses for referendum to enshrine right to housing
Paul Murphy challenged the government to hold a referendum to insert a constitutional right to adequate housing. He said the state must guarantee access to housing and accused the government of failing to vindicate that right amid rising homelessness.
Referendum on housing proposed
The speaker pointed to the programme for government commitment to hold a referendum on housing and to wording proposed by the housing commission. The proposed text states that the state recognises that having a home is fundamental to quality of life, guarantees a right of access to adequate housing and pledges as far as practicable by its laws to protect and vindicate that right.
Direct question to the Taoiseach
Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach whether they agreed with that wording and whether a referendum should be held within the lifetime of the government. He noted that the time left for the government is limited, saying it is a matter of months before the next election.
Concerns about the government's record on homelessness
He urged the government seek to vindicate the right to housing, arguing current policy has failed many people. He highlighted that there are over 4,000 children growing up in homelessness as evidence of ongoing shortcomings.
Recent deaths and safety questions at the Grand Canal
The speaker recalled the death of Jonathan Corrie almost ten years ago and linked recent tragic drownings to rough sleeping. He identified Donal Scanlon and Alex Warnick as the two men who drowned at the Grand Canal over the weekend and said their deaths appeared connected to homelessness; he also suggested the role of additional barriers around the canal should be examined in any investigation.
Emergency accommodation and service engagement
The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive confirmed both men had engaged with its services and advised there is sufficient emergency accommodation in Dublin. The Homeless Executive encouraged anyone seeking accommodation to contact the local authority and indicated there may be capacity for possibly 50 to 70 more people.
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The programme for government makes a commitment to hold a referendum on housing. The time of this government is coming to an end one way or another. It is simply a matter of months before the next election. The housing commission went off and proposed a wording which states that the state recognises that having a home is of fundamental importance to quality of life and that access to adequate housing by facilitating the development of family, social and community relationships promotes the common good. The state, therefore, guarantees to every citizen a right of access to adequate housing and pledges as far as practicable by its laws to protect and vindicate that right. Do you agree, Taoiseach, with that wording? Do you think that a referendum should be held within the lifetime of this government to insert that into the constitution? All the indications are that this government does not seek to vindicate the right to people of housing. That is why we have over 4,000 children growing up in homelessness. I also want to make the point that it is now almost 10 years since Jonathan Corrie died, not far from the gates of Leinster House. At that time it was said this is a scourge, it should never happen again. But at the weekend two men drowned tragically. It seems very unlikely that they would have drowned if they had not been rough sleeping. It seems that their drowning is linked to them being homeless. I also would say that in the investigation there, something that needs to be looked at is whether the additional barriers that have been erected around the canal had any role to play in terms of where those men had located their tents and then whether that contributed to their awful death. To Deputy Murphy, I want to join with him in expressing my sympathy to the family and friends of Donal Scanlon and Alex Warnick, who tragically passed away at the Grand Canal in Dublin over the weekend. We think of both of them, their family and friends. The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive has confirmed that both men had engaged with their services. They also have advised that there is sufficient emergency accommodation in Dublin and let me just say that anybody seeking accommodation, please do contact the local authority because the message from the Homeless Executive is that they do have existing emergency accommodation. Possibly 70 more people, perhaps 50 more people. Thank you.
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