Protesters today pledged to keep fighting in their bid to hand a petition on homelessness to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, as calls for a Dáil debate on the issue were refused.

A number of homeless people today stormed the gates of Leinster House, raced across the plinth and staged a sit-down protest at the front entrance.

More than 20,000 people believe the proceeds of a government property deal should be donated to Dublin’s homeless, it will be claimed today.

Members of the homeless community have vowed to sleep outside the Dáil tonight to ensure the Government confronts the problem inside the political chambers.

Celebrities and politicians were among thousands of people at a rally in Belfast today to call for an end to world poverty.