Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North West, Matt Carthy, will address a public meeting on ‘Tackling the Housing Crisis’ in Clane, Co Kildare, this Thursday evening where he will outline, among other issues, his party’s proposals to end the ‘free rein’ of the banks and vulture funds.
Speaking in advance of the public meeting, Carthy said: “The unprecedented housing crisis in this state has been caused by a series of public policy failures – a failure to cap rents, a failure to build social housing, and a failure to implement an effective vacant homes strategy.
“At the same time the housing and homelessness crisis has been worsened by the government’s policies of inviting in the US vulture funds, and creating a virtually tax-free environment for both the banks and the vultures.
“Instead of regulating international speculators, the government has welcomed in the hedge funds with open arms, which has driven up housing and rental costs and priced an entire generation out of ever owning their own home.
“At every stage in this unfolding disaster, the government has been supported by Fianna Fáil, which voted against Sinn Féin’s Rent Certainty Bill in 2016, and voted against a rent certainty amendment in the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill. Fianna Fáil has facilitated the defeat of other important legislation by abstaining, such as on the Secure Rents and Tenancies Bill and the Social and Affordable Housing Bill 2016.
“All of the parties and independents who claim to support action to end the housing crisis and clip the vultures’ wings now need to put their money where their mouth is and support Sinn Féin’s ‘No Consent, No Sale’ bill progressing in the Dáil, which will require banks to gain the written consent of their customers before selling on their mortgages to a third party.
“Across the state, communities are demanding a fundamental step-change in the government’s approach to the banks and vultures, and for emergency measures to be implemented that will tackle the housing and homelessness crisis immediately and effectively.
“Sinn Féin is standing with these communities and campaigning for policies that will benefit the people and not the banks and vultures at the local, state and EU level.”
The public meeting on ‘Tackling the Housing Crisis’ will take place in the West Grove Hotel, Clane, Co Kildare, at 8pm this Thursday March 7 2019.
