Government councillors vote against own parties in DCC eviction motion

Dublin City Councillors have voted in favour of a motion to extend the eviction ban until the end of the year.

Last week, a special meeting of the council was heard where Sinn Fein tabled a motion to extend the ban which officially ended on April 1.

The motion also called for an expansion of the tenant-in-situ scheme for social and affordable cost rental tenants, and to use emergency planning and procurement powers to target vacant and derelict properties.

“The decision to reverse the ban on evictions by this Government is a cold and calculated attack on some of the most vulnerable people in society,” Sinn Fein councillor Daithí Doolan said.

Labour Party councillor Dermot Lacey also proposed five addendums to the motion on behalf of the Labour group on the council.

These included calling on the Government to engage with the EU commission to change the rules to bring short-term holiday lets to the rental market.

Lacey also proposed that councillors identify and document publically owned sites in the areas that could accommodate eight or more social or affordable housing.

The motion was passed by 37 votes to eight, with four members abstaining.

Of the nine Fianna Fail councillors in attendance, seven voted in favour and two against.

Five Green Party councillors also voted in favour of the motion while two voted against and two abstained, including Lord Mayor of Dublin councillor Caroline Conroy.

Councillors from Sinn Fein, People Before Profit, Labour and selected Independents were highly critical of the government’s decision to end the ban.

PBP councillor Deirdre Cronin said the current housing crisis was a result of the “conscious cruelty of Tory policy”.

Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Heney defended her party and rejected accusations that it does not care about the homelessness problem.

He refuted Labour’s addendum and said that previous Labour leader and Minister for Housing Alan Kelly “destroyed the housing list.”

Fine Gael councillor James Geoghegan said although the upcoming period “will be challenging” he said the Government is funding measures to safeguard tenants at risk of homelessness.

Independent councillor Christy Burke said he is “touched and saddened by the number of people contacting him day in and day out.

“The human misery attached to this for people is unacceptable completely.”

Speaking after the passing of the vote, Doolan welcomed the result.

“It is hugely significant that tonight Dublin City Council has voted overwhelmingly to support a Sinn Féin motion calling on the Government to reinstate the eviction ban.

“Government parties could only muster 8 votes to oppose this important motion.

“The Government decision to overturn the eviction ban is a cold, cruel, calculated decision.

“It punishes the most vulnerable for a housing crisis that has been caused by consecutive Governments failed policies.

“Tonight’s vote sends a very loud, clear message to the Government.

“Ireland’s largest local authority demands that Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien do the right thing and immediately reinstate the eviction ban.”

A motion of no confidence in the Government tabled by Labour in the Dáil last week was defeated by 86 votes to 67.

Party leader Ivana Bacik said the motion stemmed from the Government’s “indefensible decision to lift the eviction ban.”