New TD says homelessness is top priority

NEWLY elected Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West, Mark Ward, declared war on homelessness on his first day in office.

Deputy Ward narrowly beat Fine Gael councillor Emer Higgins by just 500 votes in the end to secure a place in the four-seater constituency in last week’s by-election.

As Deputy Ward joined his Sinn Féin colleagues in Leinster House for his first official day as a Teachta Dála he said he had a mandate from the people of Dublin Mid-West to tell the Government that its policies were not working for workers and families.

In his maiden speech to the Dáil during a no confidence motion in the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy, Deputy Ward said the housing crisis was the number one issue that was coming up on the doors right across the constituency.

“Homeless figures are up again,” he said. “The normalisation of the housing crisis is not normal. It is not normal for our family, friends, neighbours and fellow citizens to not have a safe and secure place to call home tonight.”

The motion was later defeated by just three votes, with the final numbers standing at 56 votes to 53.

Deputy Ward’s next move was to co-sponsor the Waste Management Regulator Bill that he described as the first step in bringing waste collection services
back under public control.

Speaking in the Dáil he said this was a continuation of a campaign he started during his time on South Dublin County Council.

“The privatisation of domestic waste collection services has failed, with increased costs for households, negative environmental impacts and increased illegal dumping,” he said.

“I grew up in North Clondalkin, an area with many socio-economic problems but it was clean in comparison to what it is today.

“Areas that could be used for football and dog walking are full of litter and remains of fires from the burning of domestic waste. The impact of the few is having a detrimental impact on the many.

“These are the issues that the people sent me here to work on and these will be my priorities going forward.”

Meanwhile, Dublin City Councillor Hazel Chu has been elected as the new cathaoirleach of the Green Party.

Cllr Chu takes up the role following a vote of party members and succeeds Cllr Roderic O’Gorman as Chair of the party.

The election was done by postal ballot with roughly half of all full members taking part. Cllr Chu came narrowly ahead of Cllr Pauline O’Reilly, the Green Party General Election candidate for Galway West.

Speaking following the count Hazel Chu said: “I’m delighted to take up the role of cathaoirleach of the Green Party. I believe that the Green Party will have a growing influence in Irish politics in the years ahead and I’m keen that we prepare for that.

“I want to help get the party ready for the upcoming General Election. I want to help develop new branches of the party, and I want to help support new candidates.

“As climate breakdown, environmental pollution, and inequality emerge as the issues of our time the Green Party are uniquely placed to contribute to Ireland’s future. I want to make sure we are ready, as an organisation, to compete right across the country and build support.”

Hazel Chu is a Dublin City Councillor for the Pembroke LEA. She trained as a barrister and has led communications for some of Ireland’s best-known brands.

In Dublin South West Fianna Fáil has completed its General Election ticket with the addition of Cllr Deirdre O’Donovan.

The decision was made following a meeting of the party’s National Constituencies Committee.

Cllr O’Donovan said: “We have an extremely strong ticket, and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues Deputy John Lahart and Cllr Charlie O’Connor.”