Rory Hearne

I will raise two issues. The first is the issue of policing. It is deeply disappointing that there has been a reduction in Garda resources across the country as a result of the EU Presidency. In my own constituency, Ballymun and Finglas Garda stations will see a reduction in the coming months as a result of gardaí being allocated elsewhere in relation to the Presidency. There is a feud ongoing in …

I thank Deputy Kerrane and Sinn Féin for bringing forward this really important motion. It is very close to my heart as someone with children going through the early years sector. I thank the early years educators who provide an excellent and caring service and who are absolutely not treated properly. I completely support SIPTU's campaign for proper pay and conditions. I thank the Minister for com…

78. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider a ban on no-fault eviction in light of consecutive months of record-breaking numbers of people and children in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48048/26]

We are in a wave of evictions the likes of which the country has not seen since the Famine. There is such human misery going on. I am contacted daily by people facing eviction. These are elderly people, young people and families. It is absolutely scandalous. It is the highest rate of evictions. Since Deputy Browne became Minister, 27,000 households have been issued an eviction notice. Last week, t…

They will. They do not currently.

The Minister talks about me making a political football. It is an absolute disgrace. The reason I am pointing out that we have seen the highest rates of eviction since the Famine is because the Minister and this Government are completely out of touch with the human catastrophe going on right now. I do not believe that he does not see it in his own constituency. We know there was a case of eviction…

Is it an emergency or is it not an emergency? It is not actually true that it is just about supply. These people are in homes. If the Minister put in place a ban on evictions, they could be kept in their homes until supply reaches the point where, if they are evicted, they will not be evicted into homelessness. Where are they going to be able to afford to rent? These are elderly people and other p…

His policies are not serving these people.

The Dublin Simon Community's report this week showed a 20% increase in the number of women accessing its homeless services. We are in the midst of an unprecedented human catastrophe, with mass evictions taking place across this country. Families, children and the elderly are being evicted from their homes. A total of 30,000 households have been issued a notice to quit just in the last 18 months. O…

Not the majority of existing tenants.

People are sick of seeing derelict buildings across this country when they cannot get a home of their own but the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste's blaming of councils is shameless. The Taoiseach was in government during the Celtic tiger when councils were gutted. Fine Gael has been in government since 2011 and has starved local authorities of funding. The reality is the new derelict sites tax, just li…

Of course they were.

It is not stupid. The Government did it during austerity.

The Government absolutely destroyed councils' capacity.

The stupid statement is the Taoiseach's.

He just said I made a stupid-----

It hit a bone because it is true.

That is the Government's fault, not theirs.

The Minister of State is probably well aware of the significant concerns of a number of rights-based organisations working directly on housing on the front line, including the statutory body, IHREC, and others. I will outline what they have highlighted as some of the significant concerns about this Bill. I was not a Deputy during the previous Dáil term when this legislation went to the housing co…

The Minister of State did not reply to any of the questions I asked.

It is farcical.

I also thank Deputy Gibney for her work in bringing forward this motion and the excellent work done in recent days highlighting what this Government should be doing. It is deeply disappointing to see this amendment moved and the Government should reconsider that seriously. When we talk of sport and football, I will start by reading the words of 13-year-old Saif, who suffered a life-changing injur…

On 24 February 2022, the same day that Putin launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia's World Cup qualifier play-off opponents, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, all announced they would refuse to play their matches on Russian soil. Three days later, those three countries announced they were all boycotting the fixtures in their entirety. These decisions were taken without the approval…

I raise ongoing issues in my constituency of access to appropriate school places for children with additional needs. A parent was in touch with me about her child, Roman Slater. She is really worried. He is five years of age. He is currently in his third year of ageing out in pre-school. He has no placement and no July provision. He is on the list for schools locally, including St. Brigid's Infant…

I thank Deputy Gibney for outlining very clearly why services need to be included in this Bill. I will further develop that case because the Government is making a fundamental mistake in not including services. I will outline some of the international law, practice and findings in relation to the West Bank and what is going on. It is deeply disappointing that the Government has decided to exclude …