Labour table motion of no confidence in Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party

Labour leader Ivana Bacik has confirmed the submission of a motion of no confidence in Government in light of the egregious decision to lift the eviction ban.

Deputy Duncan Smith confirmed the submission of this motion at Business Conference today.

The motion reads:

That Dáil Éireann –

notes:

• that the Government by its refusal to extend the ban on evictions has made a deliberate and conscious decision to expose thousands of people to the risk of immediate homelessness;

and resolves that it has no confidence in the Government.

 –Ivana Bacik, Brendan Howlin, Alan Kelly, Ged Nash, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Seán Sherlock, Duncan Smith.

Deputy Bacik said:

“At the Business Committee this morning, my colleague Duncan Smith TD confirmed that we will use our private members’ time next week (Wednesday, 29^th March) to bring a motion of no confidence in this Government.

 “Although motions are non-binding, yesterday’s vote sent a strong message to people in housing distress. It has copper-fastened the turmoil for everyone in the country who has received a notice to quit in recent months, and for those who fear that they might join the thousands of others who are being left without a home – left to fend for themselves in a rental market which is in utter meltdown.

 “As if things could be made worse, the Government has revealed itself to be in a tailspin. Frantically announcing half-measures to shore up support – measures which are fundamentally incapable of making one iota of a difference to all those who are due to be turfed out of their homes from the end of next week.

“Some of these measures are ill-defined, others are antithetical to the purported aims of the Government itself.

“The Minister for Housing appeared to reveal on the News at One yesterday that he himself was not sure how his proposed first-refusal scheme for tenants facing eviction would work. This is a scheme which is doomed to fail, since most renters cannot afford to buy.

“Irish Times has reported that Minister Mary Butler had not even been told in advance about the Government plans to allow people in nursing homes to keep 100 per cent of the rental income from their homes. She said she was “disappointed” with the decision and that it will prematurely drive people into nursing homes – a result which is entirely contrary to the Programme for Government.

“Government has lost control of the housing market and is a state of fundamental disarray itself. There is no evidence underpinning the approach that they are taking and its clear that many in Government are wondering if they have confidence in the approach taken to lift the eviction ban.

“Even at this 11^th hour, it is not too late. I would urge Government to reconsider this ill-thought through decision to lift the eviction ban.”