Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil join forces on new housing committee

AS COALITION talks continue between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in Trinity College, inside Leinster House their TDs joined forces, along with Labour Party, to elect a chairperson for the new subcommittee on housing and homelessness.

The new committee, which was formed by a Sinn Féin initiative, aims to look at solutions to the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis.

At its first meeting, two TDs expressed interest in chairing the committee – John Curran of Fianna Fáil and Eoin Ó Broin of Sinn Féin. 

Curran was elected with the support of eight of the fourteen committee members including Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and Independent TD Seán Canney.

One of the first moves by the committee was to invite acting Housing Minister Alan Kelly to its next sitting scheduled for 26 April.

Eoin Ó Broin TD welcomed the decision saying he hopes the Minister will not use the excuse of 'prior engagements' to avoid attending:

“The Committee also agreed to invite those with legal and academic experience and those dealing with specific issues such as traveller accommodation and direct provision. It was also agreed to consider inviting those directly affected by the crisis such as families in emergency accommodation and family’s threatened with evictions such as those in Tyrrelstown,” he said.

The Committee will produce a final report for the Dáil on 17 June.

“If all deputies approach their work with a sense of urgency and a desire to see real policy changes, then I believe the Committee can make an impact,” Eoin Ó Broin said.