Claims by the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy this morning that he cannot stop evictions by requiring landlords to keep tenants when they sell a house are not credible, say Green Party Dublin MEP candidate Ciarán Cuffe.

Cllr Cuffe said:

“As the number of people homeless reaches 10,000 we need the government to do everything they can to stop evictions. 

“Put simply Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy is not doing that. The biggest reason for families being forced into emergency accommodation is a landlord opting to sell the property and evicting them.

“Speaking on radio this morning the Minister said he couldn’t do anything about this because it would lead to a 20% reduction in the price of the home.

“What he is saying here is that preserving the wealth of some is more important than keeping a roof over the heads of others. This is appalling.

“We need to immediately stop these evictions by stopping evictions at sale. Families and the well-being of children should always come ahead of private profits.

“The idea that this would drive landlords away from the market does not add up. We are already losing landlords that is why we are seeing the rising number of homeless. By securing the tenancies of people currently renting we would draw a line under those evictions and allow new builds and the conversion of derelict sites to build new capacity.”

Issued 28th March 2019, uploaded 3rd April 2019