Home Sweet Home campaigners urge Noonan to force Nama to aid the homeless

Home Sweet Home campaigners have urged Finance Minister Michael Noonan to “instruct” Nama to make buildings available to address Ireland’s homelessness crisis in the wake of the Apollo House stand-off.

A senior counsel lawyer acting on behalf of some of the people sleeping at the former Department of Social Protection building made the call for action yesterday, despite Department of Finance officials noting that any Apollo House issues remain a matter for the receiver, Mazars.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland programme 24 hours after the High Court said up to 40 homeless people illegally occupying Apollo House in Dublin’s city centre can remain at the site until noon on January 11, Ross Maguire, a senior counsel acting on behalf of four of the individuals, said that while the reprieve is welcome, it does not go far enough.