Fitzpatrick yet to decide on eviction ban vote

By tamara o’Connell

LOUTH Independent

TD Peter Fitzpatrick has not yet fully decided on how he will vote in this evening’s eviction ban vote. TD’s will vote on the issue in the Dáil ater Sinn Féin tabled a motion aimed at putting pressure on the government nine days before the moratorium on evictions is due to expire on a phased basis.

Deputy Fitzpatrick told the Dundalk Leader that at the time of going to print he needed a bit more time to decide on his stance.

“I don’t want to be forced to make a decision. I have to sit down with my staff and discuss it and I have to listen to my constituents,” he said.

“The eviction ban is due to end on 31 March 2023. I just need a wee bit of time to consider this very serious matter carefully.

“If people are evicted by their landlords where are they to go? There is nowhere to rent and there is no emergency accommodation.”

Deputy Fitzpatrick added: “I’ve never seen things as bad. People are sleeping in their cars and coming in to me crying about their situation.

“We need to do more. There needs to be a Plan B because we need to think about the families and children who will be affected by this.

“Over the next week or two we will do what we can to protect these families because if evictions are put in place following the lifting of this ban, we will see the effects by 18 June 2023.”

Deputy Fitzpatrick continued: “There is time to do something.

I see these people on a daily basis. I’m a politician over 12 years and I’ve never seen it as bad.

“The other issue that we need to consider is the standard of accommodation that some people are in.

“People are desperate to put a roof over their head so some people are living in sub-standard accommodation with damp coming off the walls.”

He concluded: “It’s wrong. There are solutions but there has to be the will there to resolve this issue. There are thousands of vacant properties in Ireland. That’s an area that could be looked at.

“I have to have a conscience when meeting my constituents. I’ve got to be able to look them in the eye and say truthfully that I am doing the best I can on their behalf.”

Meanwhile during Monday’s monthly Louth County Council meeting Sinn Féin Councillor Joanna

Byrne, successfully passed an emergency motion calling on the Government to extend the ban on evictions.

The motion received cross-party support with no opposition put forward from Councillors from Government parties within the chamber.

Cllr Byrne told the meeting; “We remain in the midst of a housing emergency with a consistent level of unprecedented homelessness reports. The decision of this Government to lift the ban on 31st March has created huge un- certainty and insecurity amongst the 750,000 people who live in the private rented sector. Those who are facing eviction are distraught and understandably terrified and the big question is, where are they meant to go? The Government has no answers for these individuals and families, which means we as both a local authority and elected representatives of this County have no answers to tell the droves of people coming to us seeking advice and/or help.”