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something to radically change. Over two years ago, the Housing Commission, an official body set up by the Government, recommended that a right to housing should be inserted in the Constitution. Since then, the coalition of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael has let that recommendation gather dust … benefit large investor landlords. Today, I move my Bill, which sets out the Housing Commission's proposal for a referendum on a right to housing that would insert a new Article 40A into the Constitution, which would state: 1. The State recognises that having a home

after month and year after year. We need a radical change of direction and a change in policy. We fundamentally need a right to housing in the Constitution. I was concerned when the Minister described this as a distraction. At least he is not talking about turning … about the people in that community, including the woman living in her car. They could have access to housing and a fundamental right to housing. We know that a constitutional right to housing would provide a clear floor of protection in respect of access to basic, adequate housing

State believes these arguments about distraction and that it might “delay delivery ... by creating uncertainty in the market”. The idea that a right to housing would create uncertainty in the market is nonsense. Did the Government ask the institutional investors for their response to this Bill and this … Fianna Fáil in this regard because it made a commitment previously, including its TDs who are now Ministers, to support a right to housing in a referendum. It is now actively denying people their fundamental right. This is a clear Bill that would give citizens in this country

forward by the Minister just does not tally. The Minister commented that this Bill was a distraction. Saying that to progress a right to housing being enshrined in the Constitution is a distraction is just so disingenuous. Honestly, not to gender stereotype, but can we not multitask … Government? Can we not pursue the right to housing while we address the supply issue? That brings me to the other matter, which is that the Minister says this will not resolve the issue. We know it will not. We understand the complexity and do not need

will start by thanking Deputy Hearne for bringing forward this Bill to amend the Constitution to include a right to housing. While the Government cannot support the Bill at this time, I welcome the opportunity to set out the Government’s position on this important issue. Our housing … Constitution in Article 45. What is clear to see is that there were differing views within the commission on the right to housing and no full consensus on what is a complex issue. The wording of the majority report is what is proposed in the Bill

going to support it. Deputy Ó Broin had similar Bills in the previous Dáil. I had a Bill on the right to housing in 2021 that amazingly passed. I think that was a mistake - the Government forgot to call a vote, so we got the right to housing … says it is doing, the situation has continued to get worse. I have one human example of why we need a right to housing. Caoimhe is now homeless for the second time, because of two subsequent evictions. She has three children and last Christmas, I read

into democracy. There were the 1990s and 2000s, an awful lot of property speculation and a property boom. Even though this constitutional right to housing, which I support, is not a silver bullet, it is certainly not worsening the situation in Spain. I cannot understand why Government … sets out starkly in many ways how the State is going wrong. I also support this Bill because I believe a constitutional right to housing would make the Minister's job easier. It is plain for those of us in opposition to see that many of the issues

terrible sense of déjà vu. For 12 years, the Oireachtas and the wider public have been debating the need for a constitutionalised right to housing. In fact, so exercised was the then Government about the matter that, in 2013, it asked the then Convention on the Constitution … housing need continues to rise. Local authority council waiting lists continue to grow ever longer. Therefore, if people thought that enshrining the right to housing in the Constitution was necessary in 2014, it is even more necessary 12 years on. Deputy Boyd Barrett rightly pointed out the fact

with the big lists that he gave? Regarding the lists that the Minister gave, none of them give a constitutional right to housing to people who should be entitled to it. The Minister is his failing in his duty because right now in Cork and Kerry there … referendum. I was on the previous housing committee where Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members spoke about having a constitutional right to housing and to a family having a home. Now, they break their promises. Do not shake your head at me, Minister. That was promised. Fianna Fáil

know that these challenges are having a real impact on people's lives and we remain focused on increasing delivery. Enshrining a right to housing in the Constitution is not necessary to solve this crisis. To hold a referendum on this now would simply create a distraction from … communities, make buying and renting homes more affordable and support the development of villages, towns and cities across the country. Introducing a right to housing in the Constitution will not result in the delivery of a single additional house. Rather, it could create unwanted and unintended consequences that

must now deal with a postponed division relating to the Second Stage of the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Housing) Bill 2026, taken on Thursday, 1 October 2026. On the question, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time", a division was claimed

spending €500 million on dealing with its own failure as somehow a good thing. Last night, the Government voted against making housing a human right. We in the Social Democrats believe that housing is a human right. This is the difference between us and the Government. We have

rail line or system. Therefore, we welcome these changes. As the Minister knows well, we talk about road safety frequently in this House, and rightly so given the near decade-high figures for deaths on our roads. There are tragedies every day on our roads. Thankfully, rail safety … equally successful for Dublin and other cities and towns across the country. They will help to tackle congestion, reduce emissions, improve health, support housing development, connect cities and regions, give people in rural Ireland, in particular, a much-needed alternative to the private car, and help with

obvious that some Members of this House have no right to speak in this House

Deputy has made regarding an audit. To add another point, what we mean by "inclusive education" is a debate we should get right in this House too. If some good is to come from the very large investments being made, which I will not go through, we will … place is the new forum on inclusive education. There needs to be a way for everyone in this House to have input if we are to get that right. If we are spending a vast sum of money and still seeing many kids not getting the education they

euro in profit and only pay 1% in tax. At the same time that this Bill removes mortgage interest relief from people right across this State, people are now seeing interest rates increase and are finding it more difficult to pay their mortgage costs and the Government will … words, the worst one can do is help somebody trying to buy house is to accidentally push up house prices. He was right but he buckled under pressure from Fianna Fáil and has jacked up the amount involved. Therefore, house prices will increase further. It is shameful that

have those conversations about how to do this right. I do not believe it is beyond the ingenuity of this House to get this right. I share the Deputy's view that it is very important to get the structure of this right

promise to hold a referendum on marriage equality, which as well know passed by a landslide. Many of the civil rights passed in this House were because of the Labour Party and it is something we are very proud to say. At the end of 2025, the Labour … repeat my party's steadfast commitment to advancing the rights of those who identify as non-binary and people who are intersex. They have waited too long for this debate. As I said previously in the House, we must stand with them today and every day. I look

taxman. The issue of inheritance tax attracts an outsized proportion of media and political attention, mostly from people in this House on the political right. I understand how some people feel about this. I understand it is an issue that is personal to many people. I get that … PAYE workers. The seeds of much of the discontent felt now go back to last year’s notorious decision imposed on this House and the Government by the now Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Deputy Harris, to lash out over €700 million to the hospitality sector

affordable house has been build on public land in the county. As matters stand, there are no plans to do build any such houses. It is the same story in other counties, From what I can see, there are fewer or limited resources available to local authorities … failing. What is the impact of that? As my colleague Deputy Cullinane said, more and more families are saying that the right to own a house is out of their reach and that they are not going to be able to buy houses. That is a devastating scenario

solar. Not everyone has tens of thousands of euro for a deep retrofit. A lot of my constituents live in social and affordable housing and want to be able to have a quick €500 kit - possibly cheaper if the Government does a maximum scheme - to reduce their energy … Ireland. Rather than a four-month Civil Service discussion on where we need to look first, I will identify three places right now. The first is housing. We must cut the cost of delay and delivery and look at the consultancy speed. The seller’s legal pack, which

this House and I ask that no one doubt the bona fides of people on this side of the House in terms of wanting to get this right. There are diverse views and what Deputy Rice said earlier may be right, there may be a significant view that … There will be engagement and the terms of reference will have to come back to the House for the statutory inquiry to be established. Let us all work to get this right. People have different views, but I think the Remy Farrell report is an important piece

Protocol 21 works case by case. Each measure needs to be opted in in its own right and approved by both Houses under Article 29.4.7°. Each motion is a specific EU measure. We will support these but as I have said in front of this House many times

listened to each other. It would be very helpful if Deputy Rice had listened to what the Taoiseach said in the House yesterday when this issue was raised. It is not helpful to the many parents who engaged with Mr. Farrell's scoping inquiry. He is a very … timeframe. There should be no rigidity around 2019 or anything like that. This is about getting it right. We know, and those of us who have been in the House for quite a period of time know too, that getting the terms of reference right matters and getting

Before we proceed, I wish to remind Members of the standards expected in the Chamber. This House must be able to debate legislation and reach decisions. The Opposition has every right to challenge, object and oppose. Equally, every Member … right to be heard without interruption. However strongly we disagree, we must respect one another’s right to speak. That applies equally to both sides of this House. Members must make their case through the strength of their arguments within the time allocated, not through shouting, displaying placards

Heritage his views on whether a child spending months or years living in emergency accommodation is not merely a housing issue but a serious children's rights and equality issue; the assessment his Department has made of the impact of prolonged homelessness on children (details supplied); whether

Government and Heritage the measures are in place to help older social housing tenants who wish to move from a larger home to a smaller, suitable home in their own community; and whether additional right sizing homes are planned for Cork Northwest. [69268/26

Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the Government’s plans for the wind-down of the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme; the number of participants whose entitlement under the scheme is due to expire in each of the next … five years; whether a replacement or successor scheme is being considered; the arrangements that will apply to affected landowners and turbary right holders once their current compensation period ends; the consultation that will take place with those affected; and the next steps and timeline for decisions in this