Fine Gael TDs ‘pearl clutching’ about Garda image to distract from eviction ban, says Murphy

The criticism of the image posted by Sinn Fein TD Eoin Ó Broin on Twitter from Fine Gael politicians was an effort by the government to divert attention away from the lifting of the eviction ban, says People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy.

The picture depicted Gardaí aiding with an eviction of tenants during the famine era.

“The image that was posted on Eoin Ó Broin’s twitter was merely a scene reminiscent of the eviction at North Frederick Street in Dublin in 2018,” he said.

“We also should remember the heavy handed way in which Gardaí removed Debenhams workers who were on the picket lines whilst in dispute with the company.

“The pearl clutching by Fine Gael TDs is designed to distract from their responsibility for lifting the eviction ban, and to seek to shut down legitimate criticism of the Gardaí.

“The fact here is that the government has allowed for a situation where, over the next number of months, we could see a vast increase in the levels of notices to quit and evictions.

“The government is responsible for this situation due to the absolute failure of their housing policies- their failure to deliver adequate social and affordable housing.

“People who are facing eviction in this country, because of the failure of government housing policy will find they have little alternative to overholding because there is literally nowhere else to go.”