VIDEO: Declare homelessness a ‘national emergency’

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was urged to declare homelessness as a national emergency as people in temporary accommodation looked on from the Dáil’s public gallery.

Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger warned the Government was not taking the crisis seriously enough as she compared people affected by homelessness to the victims of the Magdalene laundries.

Calling on Mr Kenny to treat the situation as a national emergency, Ms Coppinger said: “If he does not make that simple admission, the type of emergency measures we need will never be taken. There are homeless women and men in the visitors’ gallery today who have come in hope that the leader of this country may display a modicum of urgency about the homeless nightmare into which they and thousands like them have been plunged.