Families still being driven into homelessness as FF/FG farce continues

IT IS "completely unacceptable" that six weeks on from the General Election families are still being driven into homelessness, while the Dáil has only sat three times, Sinn Féin TDs told An Phoblacht at Leinster House.

Formal discussions between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are ongoing to form a coalition Government which will reportedly also include some independent TDs. 

While there is support for a coalition amongst Fine Gael representatives, reports from a Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meeting indicate that there is widespread opposition to such an arrangement.

Peadar Tóibín TD told An Phoblacht:

“They've wasted the last week with this farce, getting to a place that everybody knew they were going to go,” he said.

Accusing Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of stifling the work of the Dáil, Peadar told An Phoblacht:

“On an annual basis, 350 people die in hospital emergency departments due to overcrowding. So in the last six weeks up to 30 people have tragically died as a result of overcrowding. In housing, up to 250 people have been forced into emergency accommodation during this unnecessary hiatus”.

Louise O'Reilly TD said citizens in need of help should not have to wait for the two main conservative parties to agree before urgent Dáil business can be conducted:

“We were elected to do a job and that's what we want to do. There's no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. This is a charade. It's about time they got on with it because we in Sinn Féin want to get on with doing the job we have been elected to do”.

Peadar Tóibín also hit out at some within Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael who have tried to point the finger at Sinn Féin in relation to the failure to form a Government:

“We would grab government with both hands, we want to be in Government in this state. But the figures are not there for Sinn Féin for forming a Government. And the people who are trying to draw us in are themselves refusing to talk to us in the first place,” he said.

The Meath West TD added that his party has been upfront with the electorate in saying they would not support a Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil-led government.