TDS ARE BACK in the Dáil today to vote in a new Taoiseach, but first they voted to take another week off.
Fine Gael proposed the motion for TDs to resume Dáil business on 14 April with the vote passing 111 to 56. It comes amid ongoing efforts to form a government with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin meeting later this evening.
Sinn Féin opposed the motion, as the party was adamant that crises in housing and homelessness were continuing in “the real world”.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said that while politicians continue with “charade” of talks to form a government, the “real crisis out there in the real world” continues.
She said Sinn Féin had a motion ready to submit proposing a committee be set up on the housing and homeless crisis. McDonald asked that its motion be allowed continue, stating that work has ground to a halt while the political establishment hammer out a deal on whether they can work together in government.
Surely we can work together on the issue of housing and homelessness.
McDonald said that while parties had different ideas on a great many things, none of them could deny the seriousness of the situation. She said it was imperative that they be allowed to get on with their work.
Gerry Adams said an easy way for the motion to be allowed to progress, would be if the Taoiseach himself proposed the motion.
Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghail proposed that party whips meet to discuss how to deal with the issue as a matter of urgency.
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