Fantastic result as Anti Eviction Bill passes to next stage after winning Dáil vote
People Before Profit slam TDs who voted no to or abstained on the anti-eviction bill
The Solidarity People Before Profit Anti-Eviction Bill has passed to the next stage of the Dáil process by a margin of 45-39.
People Before Profit TDs Richard Boyd Barrett, Bríd Smith and Gino Kenny, speaking after a vote in the Dáil said that it was fantastic that the bill has passed but it was an absolute disgrace that members of the Oireachtas had voted against measures to keep people and families facing homelessness in their homes.
Richard Boyd Barrett said:
“We are delighted that the bill got through. But, from this vote, we can quite clearly see that the rhetoric of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail of being concerned about homelessness is not matched by their actions. By voting no to this bill or by abstaining they voted against measures that would keep vulnerable families in their homes. It is an utter outrage. The next round of this battle is to prevent the almost certain efforts of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to bury this bill at committee stage or completely gut its contents.”
Bríd Smith said:
“There are many families facing into Christmas with the fear of being evicted and being forced into homelessness. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have today exposed themselves as the landlord parties whose aims are totally at odds with the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in our society.”
Gino Kenny said:
“Whilst it is brilliant we got the bill over the line, this vote shows us that the Fine Gael/ Fianna Fail cabal that has presided over this ever-worsening crisis for years have not the interest or the will to fix the housing crisis. What we must do now on the back of this great result is build a massive movement of people power that will force the government’s hand on the question of housing and homelessness. We need to mobilise tens of thousands of people for mass protests in the New Year. As we saw when we defeated water charges mass protest is what terrifies the establishment and forces them to do things they clearly do not want to do.”
Ends
