'Social conscience' needed on homelessness, warn Fine Gael TDs

The government's strategy on homelessness has been criticised by its own Fine Gael TDs after recent controversial remarks by the Taoiseach and the Housing Minister comparing the problem here to other countries.

Fine Gael TDs last night warned Minister Eoghan Murphy that the government should steer clear of statistics and reports when addressing homelessness and focus on caring for people.

Dublin Bay South TD Kate O'Connell told her constituency colleague Mr Murphy that the government needed to have “a social conscience” and that one homeless person was too many.