Sinn Féin has said the Government will forever be remembered for ‘deliberately increasing homelessness’.

The Government looks set to win a Dáil vote on its decision to end the eviction ban later today.

It comes after the regional group of independent TDs agreed to support the move.

The group had issued eight demands that must be met for its support and the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien suggested he would accept the amendments.

Minister O’Brien held talks with some of the group's eight TDs before yesterday’s debate and, while some are still asking for further clarification, others have now agreed to support the Government.

"That is your legacy"

Speaking during last night’s debate on Sinn Fein’s motion to extend the eviction ban into next year, the party’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said Minister O’Brien would forever be remembered for ending the ban.

“For those of us old enough to remember when Margaret Thatcher withdrew free milk from schools in Britain, ‘Thatcher, Thatcher, the milk snatcher’ was the campaign slogan,” he said.

“John Bruton and VAT on children’s shoes almost brought down the Government.

“That is your legacy.

“That is what people will associate with the name Darragh O’Brien into perpetuity. The minister who deliberately increased homelessness.”

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin speaking to the media on the plinth at Leinster House in September 2021. Picture by: Leah Farrell / RollingNews

He said Government claims that its housing strategy is working are an “absolute disgrace”.

“The idea that you think the housing plan is working; the idea you think this is a credible response to the highest levels of homelessness in modern history in this State is an absolute disgrace,” he said.

“You and your colleagues should be ashamed of yourself because as those homeless figures start to rise come April, it is your responsibility and that of the colleagues around you.”

Correct decision

Meanwhile, Minister O'Brien insisted the decision to end the ban was not taken lightly.

He said the move was the correct one – and noted that Sinn Féin’s plan does the same thing, just at a different time.

“Your motion very clearly states that Sinn Féin are not against eviction,” he said.

“Rather, they will ensure there is eviction when the situation will be much worse.

“This Government has been honest with people. We introduced the winter moratorium to mitigate pressures faced by people over the winter period.

“We did so in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.”

Minister O’Brien accused the opposition of “politicising the housing crisis” and said extending the ban would lead to even fewer houses becoming available to rent – with the very same debate happening in the middle of winter.

Green Party

The decision to end the ban has also faced criticism from those within Government with Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan confirming she will vote with the opposition on the issue.

Social Democrat TD Cian O' Callaghan urged her Green Party colleagues to follow her lead.

“I think the Green TDs should show some backbone on this,” he said.

“I don’t believe when any of them stood for election, they were running on the basis of, when homelessness is at record levels, they would be supporting measures that would increase that even further.

“Indeed, the minister for housing has said lifting the eviction ban is likely to increase homelessness.”

Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan at the launch of a 'Roadmap to Zero' report around Hepatitis C elimination targets in June 2022. Picture by: Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland

The Dáil is set to vote on the motion later today.

If the Government lost the vote it would not be obliged to reverse its decision; however, Sinn Féin believes the reversal would pressurise it into a rethink.